The Nov. 5 ballot features 48 races not counting the Memphis referendums at the bottom of the ballot.

Of those 48 races in Shelby County, 21 are uncontested races with only one candidate on the ballot. Those candidates are automatic winners once the polls close on election night.

Here’s a rundown of those races as well as some of other races for the state legislature that aren’t getting as much attention as the races in State House Districts 83 and 97 because the challengers aren’t doing a lot of campaigning or because of the way the districts are drawn to heavily favor one party over the other.

Some early voters complain to officials about touch-screen problems

The list of incumbents automatically winning new terms in the Tennessee legislature as part of the Shelby County Delegation includes a change in the delegation.

Former Shelby County Democratic Party Chairwoman Gabby Salinas won a crowded Democratic primary in District 96 on the August ballot.

She is unopposed by any Republican or independent candidates on the November ballot. She succeeds fellow Democrat Dwayne Thompson who did not seek reelection to another two-year term in the House.

Early voting opening day totals lower

The other legislative races to be decided by Shelby County voters are:

1. Senate District 30: Incumbent Democrat Sara Kyle is being challenged by independent Mitchell Morrison.
2. House District 86: Incumbent Democrat Justin J. Pearson is being challenged by independent Jeff Johnston in a repeat of their August 2023 special election match up. Pearson easily beat Johnston in the race that followed Pearson’s expulsion from the House for speaking from the House well with a bull horn without being recognized by Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton.
3. House District 88: Incumbent Democrat Larry Miller is being challenged by Republican Larry Hunter. Hunter is a retired city bus driver who has an active yard sign campaign. Miller, a firefighter, is marking his 30th year in the state House.
4. House District 93: Incumbent Democrat G.A. Hardaway is being challenged by Republican Renarda Renee Clariett.
5. House District 98: Incumbent Democrat Antonio Parkinson is being challenged by Republican Cecil Hale.
6. House District 99: Incumbent Republican Tom Leatherwood is being challenged by independent William P. Mouzon.

Ballot Basics: What you need to know for 2024 early voting

Here are those early winners of races on the Shelby County ballot by virtue of being unopposed on the Nov. 5 ballot:

• District 32 State Senator Paul Rose
• District 84 State Representative Joe Towns
• District 85 State Representative Jesse Chism
• District 87 State Representative Karen Camper
• District 91 State Representative Torrey Harris
• District 95 State Representative Kevin Vaughan
• District 96 State Representative Gabby Salinas
• Bartlett Alderman Position 4 Monique Williams
• Bartlett Alderman Position 5 Jack Young
• Bartlett School Board Position 1 Brad Ratliff
• Bartlett School Board Position 3 Shirley Jackson
• Bartlett School Board Position 5 David Cook
• Collierville School Board Position 3 Douglas Childers
• Collierville School Board Position 5 Wright Cox
• Germantown Alderman Position 3 Sherrie Hicks
• Germantown Alderman Position 4 Brian Ueleke
• Germantown Alderman Position 5Tony Salvaggio
• Germantown School Board Position 1 Ryan Strain
• Germantown School Board Position 3 Brian Curry
• Millington School Board Position 5 Barbara Halliburton
• Millington School Board Position 7 Christopher Denson

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  Suburban ballots firm up after filing deadline

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Meanwhile, the races for two seats on the Lakeland city commission and another two seats on the Lakeland school board are already decided.

In Lakeland elections, voters select two candidates from the list of candidates in a single race.

Each of the races in Lakeland have two contenders in them, meaning each are automatic winners of the two positions at stake in each

The two Lakeland commissioners are Jim Atkinson and Derek Johnston.

The two Lakeland school board members are Jeremy Clayton Burnett and Michelle Childs.