Governor

Marsha Blackburn, Republican nominee

Marsha Blackburn is a Tennessee Republican who has represented the state in the U.S. Senate since 2019. Before becoming a senator, she served Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District representative in the U.S. House from 2003 to 2019. Earlier in her political career, Blackburn was also a member of the Tennessee Senate from 1999 to 2003. She lives in Brentwood, Tennessee, and was reelected to the U.S. Senate in 2024. Learn more about Blackburn on her campaign website or read our past coverage.

Jerri Green, Democratic nominee

Since 2023, Jerri Green has served as the District 2 representative on the Memphis City Council. In addition to her role on the council, she also serves as Shelby County’s chief public defender. Green received her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center and previously held the position of deputy chief of staff under Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris. Learn more about Green on her campaign website and read our past coverage.

David Hatley, independent candidate

David Hatley, a businessman from Elizabethton, Tennessee, is running for governor after more than 30 years as an entrepreneur and manufacturer. He started his first business at 12 years old and has since founded nine companies, secured seven patents and built 740,000 square feet of Tennessee manufacturing facilities, including a hot tub company that became the largest U.S. manufacturer in its industry. Learn more about Hatley on his campaign website or read our past coverage. 

Lauren Pinkston, independent candidate

Independent gubernatorial candidate Lauren Pinkston is a former Lipscomb University business professor who has spent more than a decade working in human trafficking prevention and economic empowerment. A seventh-generation Tennessean and Columbia resident, she holds a doctorate from Clemson University and has founded businesses and nonprofits focused on creating safe employment opportunities for trafficking survivors. To learn more, visit her campaign website or read our past coverage. 

The following individuals have also qualified and are running for Tennessee governor as independent candidates: Misam Abidi, Dean Brewer, Ray Brown, Wendell Jackson, Charles Van Morgan, Eddie Lee Murphy, Victor L. Scoogin, Dave Seeman, Karl Knox Smithson, Webb Taylor and Robert C. Vick.

U.S. Senate

Bill Hagerty, Republican nominee

Incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty, who is based in Nashville, has represented Tennessee in the U.S. Senate since winning election in 2020. Prior to entering public service, he worked in private equity and established his own investment firm. In 2011, he was appointed commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. Hagerty later served as the U.S. ambassador to Japan from 2017 to 2019. President Donald Trump has endorsed Hagerty in the current U.S. Senate race. Learn more about Hagerty on his campaign website and read our past coverage.

Marquita Bradshaw, Democratic nominee

Marquita Bradshaw is an environmental activist who currently serves as executive director of Sowing Justice, an organization focused on environmental advocacy. In 2020, she was the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Tennessee but was defeated by Hagerty in the general election. A Memphis native, Bradshaw made history as the first Black woman nominated by either major party for a statewide office in Tennessee. Learn more about Bradshaw on her campaign website and read our past coverage.

The following individuals have also qualified and are running for the U.S. Senate as independent candidates: Tharon Chandler, Andrew Gerena, Jeremy Dean Hearn, Robert Jones, James William Macon III, Yoshi D. Matthews, David Sutman, Jr. and Catherine Barcel “Barcy” Whitson.

U.S. representative, 5th District

Charlie Hatcher, Republican nominee

Charlie Hatcher owns a farm in College Grove, Tennessee, and works professionally as a livestock veterinarian. From 2019 to 2025, he served as Tennessee’s commissioner of agriculture. He also founded Hatcher Family Dairy, which produces dairy products in Middle Tennessee. Learn more about Hatcher on his campaign website and read our past coverage.

Chaz Molder, Democratic nominee

Chaz Molder was elected mayor of Columbia, Tennessee, a city located approximately 50 miles south of Nashville, in 2018. He began his legal career as an attorney in Columbia after obtaining his law degree from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis. Following the state’s recent congressional redistricting, Molder’s residence is no longer located within the 5th District. However, if he wins the seat, he’s allowed to move into the district post-election. Learn more about Molder on his campaign website or read our past coverage.

James Johnson and Micheal (Me-Haul) O’Leary have also qualified for the ballot and are running as independent candidates for the 5th District.

U.S. representative, 8th District

David Kustoff, Republican nominee

Incumbent David Kustoff has represented Tennessee’s 8th Congressional District since 2016. He received his law degree from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis and began his legal career working as an attorney with former Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland. In 2006, Kustoff was appointed U.S. attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, a position he held for two years. Learn more about Kustoff on his campaign website and read our past coverage.

Heidi Kuhn, Democratic nominee

Former Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk Heidi Kuhn has held several positions throughout her career, including executive director of the Crime Victims Center, director of training, special assistant and lead strategist to the Shelby County sheriff. She was elected Criminal Court clerk in 2018. In the May Democratic primary for county mayor, Kuhn placed fourth, receiving 11% of the vote. Learn more about Kuhn on her campaign website or read our past coverage.

Wendell “Wells” Blankenship, independent candidate

Wendell “Wells” Blankenship is an independent candidate for Tennessee’s 8th Congressional District and principal owner of Big American Media, a marketing and media company. He previously ran as an independent for Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District in 2024. Learn more about Blankenship on his campaign website.

Pamela Jeanine “P.” Moses, independent candidate

Pamela Jeanine “P.” Moses is an independent candidate for Tennessee’s 8th Congressional District. An organizer, musician and human rights advocate, she previously ran for the U.S. Senate in 2024. In January 2022, she was sentenced to six years in prison after a Shelby County jury found her guilty of false entry on her permanent voter registration, and she served 82 days in jail. Afterward, she sued the State of Tennessee, former Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich and current Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy. Learn more about Moses on her campaign website or read The Daily Memphian’s past coverage. 

Adam D. Austill, Antonio Futch, Horace Taylor and Henry J. Ward III have also qualified to run as independent candidates for the 8th District.

U.S. representative, 9th District

Brent Taylor, Republican nominee

Brent Taylor is a Tennessee state senator who is seeking election to represent the state’s 9th Congressional District. He’s also running for reelection to his state Senate seat in District 31, a position he first won in 2023. Before returning to state politics, Taylor served on the Memphis City Council for 12 years from 1995 to 2007. In his campaign for the 9th Congressional District, Taylor has received an endorsement from President Donald Trump. Learn more about Taylor on his campaign website and read our past coverage.

Justin J. Pearson, Democratic nominee

Justin J. Pearson currently serves as the state representative for District 86 and is running for U.S. House of Representatives for the 9th District. In April 2023, the state House voted to expel Pearson after he spoke — without being recognized by the chamber — in support of a protest calling for stricter gun-control measures. Following his removal, the Shelby County Board of Commissioners reappointed him to his position in the state House. In his current campaign, Pearson has received an endorsement from New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Learn more about Pearson on his campaign website or read our past coverage.

Dennis Clark and Michelle Davis Head have also qualified and are running as independent candidates for the 9th District.

Tennessee Senate, District 29

Raumesh Akbari, Democratic party nominee

State Sen. Raumesh Akbari is seeking reelection without opposition. She was first elected to the state Senate in 2019 after previously representing the 91st District in the Tennessee House from 2013 to 2018. A Memphis native, Akbari currently serves as minority leader of the Tennessee Senate. Learn more about Akbari on her campaign website and read our past coverage.

There is no Republican party nominee in this race. 

Tennessee Senate, District 31

Brent Taylor, Republican nominee

Brent Taylor is running for reelection to his state Senate seat in District 31, a position he first won in 2023, while at the same time running for the U.S. House in the state’s 9th Congressional District. Before returning to state politics, Taylor served on the Memphis City Council for 12 years from 1995 to 2007. Learn more about Taylor on his campaign website and read our past coverage.

David Weatherspoon, Democratic nominee

David Weatherspoon has worked as a chaplain at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare for more than 10 years and previously served as director of religious life at Franklin College in Indiana. He attended Belmont University in Nashville before earning his master’s of divinity and a doctorate of ministry from Atlanta’s Mercer University McAfee School of Theology. Learn more about Weatherspoon on his campaign website and read our past coverage.

Tennessee Senate, District 33

London Lamar, Democratic nominee

London Lamar is a state senator representing District 33 and serves as chair of the Tennessee Senate Democratic Caucus. She was first elected to the Tennessee House in 2018 and later won election to the state Senate in 2022. Learn more about Lamar on her campaign website or read our past coverage.

There is no Republican party nominee in this race. 

Tennessee House, District 83

Mark White, Republican nominee

Incumbent Mark White was first elected to the state House in 2010 and has served in the state Legislature ever since. He began a career in education as a science teacher in 1973, and in 1977, he moved into school administration, becoming an elementary school principal. Outside education and public service, White founded a rental business and worked as the director of the Global Children’s Educational Foundation. Learn more about White on his campaign website and read our past coverage.

Margaret Price, Democratic nominee

Memphis native Margaret Price currently serves as Sedgwick’s senior director of brand and marketing. Before joining the insurance company, Price held a program-management role at NPR and worked as a creative marketing manager at Tech901. Learn more about Price on her campaign website and read our past coverage.

Tennessee House, District 84

Matthew Szalaj, Democratic nominee

In March 2026, Memphis native Matthew Szalaj was appointed, at the age of 24, to the Shelby County Commission’s District 9 seat vacated by Edmund Ford Jr. The appointment made him the youngest commissioner in the body’s history. The son of two blue-collar factory workers, Szalaj also worked as a special assistant to Memphis Mayor Paul Young for legislative affairs and policy. Learn more about Szalaj by reading The Daily Memphian’s past coverage. 

There is no Republican nominee in this race. 

Tennessee House, District 85

Jesse Chism, Democratic nominee 

Democrat Jesse Chism currently represents Tennessee House District 85 and is running unopposed for another term. First elected in 2018, Chism now serves as chair of the Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators. Before entering the state Legislature, he worked as a disaster inspector for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Learn more about Chism here or read our past coverage.

There is no Republican nominee in this race. 

Tennessee House, District 86

Justin J. Pearson, Democratic nominee

Incumbent Justin J. Pearson is seeking reelection to the Tennessee House while also running for the U.S. House. In April 2023, the state House voted to expel Pearson after he spoke — without being recognized by the chamber — in support of a protest calling for stricter gun-control measures. Following his removal, the Shelby County Commission reappointed him to his position in the state House. Learn more about Pearson on his campaign website or read our past coverage.

There is no Republican nominee in this race. 

Tennessee House, District 87

Reggie William Hall, Republican nominee

South Memphis native Reggie Hall is seeking a seat in the Tennessee House representing District 87. Hall is a graduate of Hamilton High and attended Middle Tennessee State University. In 2023, he also ran for mayor of Memphis, ultimately losing the race to Paul Young. Read our past coverage.

Karen Camper, Democratic nominee

Incumbent state Rep. Karen Camper began her political career on the Memphis City Council before being appointed in 2008 to represent District 87. She currently serves as state House minority leader and has led the Tennessee House Democratic Caucus since 2019. Prior to and alongside her political career, Camper spent 21 years serving in the U.S. Army. Learn more about Camper on her website and read our past coverage.

Tennessee House, District 88

Larry J. Miller, Democratic nominee

Incumbent state Rep. Larry Miller is seeking another term and faces no official opposition in the election. Miller has held the District 88 seat since 1995 and currently serves as state House Democrat leader pro tempore. Before entering the state Legislature, he worked as a firefighter in Memphis. He is also the longest-serving member of the Tennessee House.

There is no Republican nominee in this race. 

Tennessee House, District 91

Torrey Harris, Democratic nominee

State Rep. Torrey Harris currently represents District 91. However, Harris was first elected in 2020 to represent District 90. After redistricting in 2022 placed him in District 91, he won election to represent the new district. Harris currently serves as the Tennessee House Democratic floor leader but is under investigation for running a potentially fraudulent political-action committee to fundraise on behalf of former Vice President Kamala Harris, according to Nashville Banner reporting. Learn more about Harris on his campaign website and read our past coverage.

There is no Republican nominee in this race. 

Tennessee House, District 93

No candidate qualified for the official ballot in this race. There are five candidates mounting write-in campaigns. They are: 

• John Bradley, an aide to former Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris who finished third in the May Democratic primary for Shelby County Commission District 10
• Tommy Brewington, no information available
• Calvin Lacy, no information available
• Mitchell Morrison, an independent candidate who ran unsuccessfully for state Senate District 30 in 2024
• Brandon Washington, a youth specialist with the City of Memphis who finished fifth in the May Democratic primary for Shelby County Commission District 10

Tennessee House, District 95

Kevin Vaughan, Republican nominee

State Rep. Kevin Vaughan is running unopposed for reelection. He has held the seat since first being elected in 2017. Outside his legislative role, Vaughan owns Township Development Services, a real estate company, and is a licensed real estate broker in Tennessee. Learn more about Vaughan on his campaign website and read our past coverage.

There is no Democratic nominee in this race. 

Tennessee House, District 96

Telisa Franklin, Democratic nominee

Telisa Franklin, a business owner and motivational speaker, is seeking election to Tennessee House District 96. She previously ran for the seat in 2024 but lost to Gabby Salinas by 132 votes. Franklin is the founder of Telisa Franklin Media and serves as president of the Memphis Juneteenth Festival. She also works as the multicultural-relations coordinator for the Mid-South Transplant Foundation. Learn more about Franklin on her campaign website and read our past coverage.

There is no Republican nominee in this race. 

Tennessee House, District 97

John Gillespie, Republican nominee

Incumbent John Gillespie was first elected to the state House in 2020 and is currently serving his third term. His professional background includes a career in banking with positions at First Tennessee and Evolve Bank and Trust. Learn more about Gillespie on his campaign website and read our past coverage.

Jesse Huseth, Democratic nominee

Former educator Jesse Huseth began his professional career as a teacher at White Station Middle and Youth Villages. He later worked as a data analyst for Jim Keras Chevrolet before launching a food-distribution company in 2019. Learn more about Huseth on his campaign website and read our past coverage.

Tennessee House, District 98

Antonio Parkinson, Democratic nominee

Incumbent Antonio Parkinson has represented the district since 2011 and currently serves as vice chairman of the Tennessee House Democratic Caucus. Before entering politics, Parkinson worked as a lieutenant with the Shelby County Fire Department and served as a U.S. Marine. He is also the owner of Black Market Strategies, a public relations firm. Learn more about Parkinson on his campaign website and read our past coverage.

There is no Republican nominee in this race. 

Tennessee House, District 99

Tom Leatherwood, Republican nominee

Incumbent Tom Leatherwood has held the seat since 2019. He began his professional career in the energy sector and later spent eight years teaching at Millington Central High. Leatherwood was elected to the state Senate in 1992 and went on to serve as Shelby County register of deeds for 18 years. Learn more about Leatherwood on his campaign website and read our past coverage.

William P. Mouzon, independent candidate

William P. Mouzon is running as an independent candidate to represent Tennessee House District 99. Mouzon was born in Detroit and served in the U.S. Navy from 1973 to 1977. He earned his high school diploma from Colonia High and has worked as a network engineer. Mouzon has lived in Shelby County for 18 years, including the past eight years as a resident of Bartlett.

Constitutional Amendment #1: Expansion of no-bail offenses

The first of the three amendments allows a court to hold someone without bail when they are accused of a crime that carries the death penalty as well as “an act of terrorism, second degree murder, aggravated rape of a child, aggravated rape, grave torture or any crime for which a convicted person would be required to serve at least 85% of their sentence.”

The state Legislature passed a “truth in sentencing” law in 2022, setting the stage for the constitutional amendment. It required those sentenced for the crimes in the act — which includes a long list of violent crimes like aggravated assault, aggravated burglary, carjacking and repeated drug crimes — to get no parole or early release and to serve at least 85% of their sentences.

By the state constitution currently, the only criminal charges that can lead to a decision to set no bail are charges that carry the death penalty.

If the amendment is approved, it would allow judges to hold defendants without bail on charges covered by the truth-in-sentencing law.

Constitutional Amendment #2: No state property tax

This may be the simplest of the amendments, city or state, on the Nov. 3 ballot. It forbids the state from imposing a state property tax “on real, personal or mixed property.”

While local governments, including Shelby County and Memphis as well as the six suburban cities and towns, each have local property tax rates, the state does not impose a property tax on top of that.

If approved, this amendment would prevent an option state leaders have not used since the Tennessee General Assembly repealed the state property tax in 1949.

Constitutional Amendment #3: Victim rights

This amendment restates, specifies and expands the rights crime victims and their families have.

The amendment includes a long list of rights, which you can read in full on the Shelby County Election Commission’s sample ballot. They mostly deal with the criminal proceedings, prosecution and punishment of an offender and how much access or information a victim or victim’s family has in that process.

Mayor 

David Parsons

After defeating multiple challengers in 2022, Parsons has no opponents in this year’s mayor’s race. He previously served for five terms as Bartlett alderman, dating to 2002. Parsons owns David Parsons Construction, a business he set aside for the full-time duties of mayor. To learn more, read The Daily Memphian’s previous coverage.

Bartlett alderman, Position 1

Jerry Jenkins

This is Jerry Jenkins’ first time running for public office. He is a U.S. Army veteran and retired civil servant. After moving to Bartlett from St. Louis, he became pastor at Prosperity Baptist Church. He teaches aspiring ministers at Fullview Baptist Church in Bartlett. Jenkins is also a former vice president of Local Union AFGE 2501 at the Defense Depot in Memphis. To learn more, read our previous coverage. 

Harold Brad King

Harold Brad King won his first term to Position 1 in 2022, defeating three other hopefuls. He has owned King James Construction Co. for more than 40 years and is semiretired. He also retired as a captain with the Memphis Fire Department in 2010 after more than 33 years of service. To learn more, read The Daily Memphian’s previous coverage. 

Bartlett alderman, Position 2

Cynthia “Cindy” Cromwell

Cindy Cromwell is a lifelong Bartlettonian, and she has owned Little Bears Preschool at 6975 U.S. 70 for the past 38 years. Before starting that business, she operated Country Garden in Bartlett for 10 years. Among her work in the local community, she helped get a baby box installed at the Bartlett Fire Department this year. Read more about her here. 

Robert Griffin

The incumbent alderman won his first term for Position 2 in 2022. Robert Griffin has lived in Bartlett for nearly two decades and worked as the marketing director for Memphis in May from 2017 until the COVID-19 pandemic hit. He now works as managing director for SmartCycle, a software firm providing business intelligence for the auto-recycling industry. To learn more, read The Daily Memphian’s previous coverage. 

Tim Schlum

Tim Schlum, who works as a minister and assistant director with Calvary Rescue Mission, is also making his first run for public office. He and his family, including two young children, moved to Bartlett four years ago from Fountain Hills, Arizona, just outside Scottsdale and Phoenix. To learn more, read The Daily Memphian’s previous coverage. 

Bartlett alderman, Position 3

Tamisha P. DuBose

Tamisha DuBose is making her first run at public office. She is a retired corporate travel consultant with 27 years experience and was ordained as a minister/evangelist earlier this year at the Greater Imani Church The Cathedral of Faith in Raleigh. DuBose is a Memphis native who moved to Bartlett 13 years ago, attracted to the area by the schools for her children.

David Reaves

Incumbent alderman David Reaves is serving his first term in Position 2. He previously served from 2010 to 2014 on the Shelby County Schools board and from 2014 to 2018 on the Shelby County Commission. Reaves is a former director with Nike and co-owns Bartlett’s Side Porch Steakhouse and The Pharmacy Coffeehouse. For more, read The Daily Memphian’s previous coverage.

Bartlett school board, Position 2

Erin Elliott Berry, Republican nominee

Erin Elliott Berry has served on the board for Bartlett City Schools since the district’s inception in 2014. She grew up in Bartlett, attended schools in the suburb and graduated from Bartlett High in 1998. She has two children who also graduated from Bartlett High in recent years. For the past 25 years, she has worked at Camco Roofing Supplies in accounting. Learn more by visiting her page or reading our past coverage. 

Bartlett school board, Position 4

Bryan Woodruff, Republican nominee

Bryan Woodruff has served as a Bartlett City Schools board member since the district’s inception in 2014. Woodruff and his family moved to Bartlett in the 1970s, and he grew up in the city. He and his wife are also raising their four children there. Woodruff works as Director of Solutions Architecture - Cloud and AI for Lumen Technologies. Learn more on the BCS page or read our past coverage. 

Collierville alderman, Position 1*

Tim Goddard

Tim Goddard is retired from AutoZone. He previously served on the suburb’s Planning Commission. He interviewed and was nearly appointed to an open alderman position in 2025, but town leaders ultimately chose other applicants. See our past coverage and visit his website.

Charles Hall 

Alderman Charles Hall was appointed to Position 1 less than two years ago. He is a sixth-generation resident of the suburb. Professionally, he owns Hewlett & Dunn Boot & Jean Co. See his website or see previous coverage.

Jason Lederfine

Jason Lederfine applied for an open alderman position two years ago but was not offered an interview. He is COO of a promotional company. Visit his website and see our past coverage.

*If no candidate gets more than 50% of ballots cast in the race, the Top 2 candidates will move to a Dec. 8 runoff.

Collierville Alderman, Position 2*

Steve Christensen

Steve Christensen owns Fortress Termite Control and serves on the town’s Beer Board. He moved to Collierville 24 years ago after visiting the annual Christmas tree lighting on Town Square. Visit his website and see past coverage.

Jewel Jordan

Alderman Jewel Jordan was on the Collierville Planning Commission until he was appointed alderman in January 2025, replacing Billy Patton, who ran for mayor. Professionally, he was in real estate and did home inspections after working with BellSouth in the telephone industry. See past coverage and visit his candidate website.

Chad Kelsey

Chad Kelsey applied for the alderman openings early last year before Hall and Jordan were ultimately appointed. His professional experience is in commercial real estate. He is chairman of the Historic District Commission and has served on a host of community boards. Learn more on his campaign website and see our past coverage.

*If no candidate gets more than 50% of the votes, the top two candidates will move to a Dec. 8 runoff.

Collierville alderman, Position 4

Liz Deely

Liz Deely is challenging Missy Marshall, the incumbent alderwoman. Deely is retired but spent time with General Motors and was with DuPont and Merrill Lynch. She taught at Southwest Community College and was a substitute teacher in Collierville through legacy Shelby County Schools. Read our past coverage or visit her website.

Missy Marshall

Alderwoman Missy Marshall is seeking her second four-year term. She was elected to a partial term in 2020 after the death of Alderman Tom Allen but won a four-year term in 2022. She spent the last 13 years as the executive director of Keep Tennessee Beautiful. She worked with three different gubernatorial administrations and in eight departments under nine different commissioners. Learn more by reading past coverage or visit her website.

Collierville school board, Position 2: 

Michael Ebbs, Republican nominee

Republican Mike Ebbs defeated Rachel Davis in the August primary. He has served on the Parks Advisory Board and is part of the band boosters. Ebbs is the associate vice chancellor of financial strategies for University of Tennessee Health Sciences College. Visit his campaign website and see our past coverage.

Jason Morrison, Democratic party nominee

Democrat Jason Morrison was unopposed in the August primary. He has been involved in PTAs and the band boosters in Collierville Schools. Professionally, he is the vice president of clinical research informatics at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Visit his campaign website and see our past coverage.

Collierville school board, Position 4

Tom Bailey, Republican nominee

Republican Tom Bailey is running unopposed for Position 4. He was elected two years ago to finish the unexpired term of Keri Blair, who resigned amid shoplifting charges. He is now seeking the four-year term. Visit his Facebook page to learn more.

Germantown mayor

Edgar Babian

After Germantown Mayor Mike Palazzolo decided to retire, Edgar Babian, former deputy fire chief, filed his paperwork due to frustrations with a development near his neighborhood. He recently retired after serving as the Rossville, Tennessee, fire chief. Learn more about Babian on his website or read The Daily Memphian’s past coverage. 

Tony Salvaggio

Alderman Tony Salvaggio announced his intentions in February while Germantown voters were weighing whether or not to make the mayor position full time in a May referendum, which failed in a landslide. Salvaggio owns two businesses: Memphis Door & Hardware and The Salvaggio Group. Learn more about Salvaggio on his campaign website or read The Daily Memphian’s past coverage.

Germantown alderman, Position 1

Scott Sanders

Alderman Scott Sanders is unopposed in his third term for Position 1. It’s the first time he’s run unopposed for the seat. He retired from the U.S. Marshals Service in 2017 and then ran for alderman in 2018. He wants to see term limits implemented. See previous coverage.

Germantown alderman, Position 2

Todd Adams

Todd Adams wants to be part of a new wave of leadership in Germantown as the suburb seeks a new mayor. He wants to see term limits implemented in the suburb, a topic which has become prevalent in the Germantown election. Professionally, he is a real estate agent with Keller Williams. See previous coverage. More info on Adams can be found on his website.

Mary Anne Gibson

Incumbent Mary Anne Gibson wants to provide experience as Germantown seeks a new mayor. Gibson, the city’s vice mayor, does not favor term limits. Professionally, she is a real estate agent with The Firm. See past coverage or vist Gibson’s campaign website for more information.

Germantown school board, Position 2

Heather Fisher, Republican nominee

Republican Heather Fisher, who is running unopposed, joined the board a few months early after Scotty Hendricks Jr. resigned earlier this year. Her four-year term officially begins in December, but she was appointed to the open position in August.

Germantown school board, Position 4

Vicki Gandee, Republican nominee

Republican Vicki Gandee is a real estate agent who works with Crye-Leike. She recently reached a settlement in a decade-old lawsuit with Germantown’s school board, the same body to which she is seeking election. She has given multiple reasons why she cannot do an interview with The Daily Memphian. One of her five sons graduated from Germantown Municipal School District. See our past coverage or visit her website.

Joy Williams, independent candidate

Joy Williams is also a real estate agent but with Main Street Realtors. She spent years serving Germantown’s schools through PTA. She also taught for a brief time at Houston Middle. All three of her children graduated from GMSD. Visit her website or see past coverage.

Mayor 

Connie McCarter

Connie McCarter won her first term as Lakeland commissioner in 2022 when she ran unopposed. A former registered nurse with Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, she retired in 2025 after 47 years in nursing. She has lived in Lakeland since 1991, and her father, the late Jim Bomprezzi, was Lakeland’s mayor from 1997 to 2000. McCarter previously served on the Lakeland Board of Appeals/Stormwater Board of Appeals and the Lakeland Comprehensive Development Plan Advisory Committee. For more, see The Daily Memphian’s previous coverage.

Josh Roman

Incumbent Josh Roman is seeking his second term as mayor. He owns Roman Insurance and is a former commissioner and vice mayor who currently serves on the Lakeland Industrial Development Board. Roman previously served on the city’s Economic Development Commission/Industrial Development Board from 2006 to 2015. He and his family have lived in Lakeland since 2000. For more, read The Daily Memphian’s previous coverage.

Commissioner (Voters pick two candidates, and the Top 2 win the seats.)

Jeremy Burnett

Jeremy Burnett has served on the Lakeland School System board for nearly a decade after he was appointed to the board in 2017. He won the next two elections to retain his seat. He has also served on Lakeland’s Industrial Development Board. He works for the University of Tennessee as director of Loane Oaks Farm’s West Tennessee 4H and youth-development center. For more, read our previous coverage.

Heather Ann Long

Heather Ann Long is making her first run at public office. She works for Embrace Pet Insurance and is a licensed wildlife rehabber with her nonprofit, Lakedra’s Chance. She was part of a group that supported a lawsuit in late 2017 against the City of Lakeland and its Industrial Development Board to block bonds funding a high school wing onto the existing Lakeland Middle. For more, visit Long’s campaign website.

Lindsey Reap

Lindsey Reap is making her first run at an elected office. She currently serves on Lakeland’s Community Advisory Board and is a third-generation Lakeland resident with three children in the Lakeland School System. She has worked in critical healthcare and emergency medicine for two decades.

Lakeland school board (Voters pick three candidates.)

Keith Acton, Republican nominee

A father of four and a real estate executive, Keith Acton is a current member of the Lakeland School System’s board. He has served on the city’s Economic Development Commission. To learn more, click here or read our past coverage.

Sara Castellaw, Republican nominee

Newcomer Sara Castellaw joined the race after Deborah Thomas decided in January she would not seek another term. Castellaw is a former senior accountant with Grace Medical and also worked as an assistant controller at Archer Malmo. Now, she is a stay-at-home mom taking care of her four kids, all of whom are in Lakeland schools. She grew up in Lakeland during the 2000s. After moving away when she got married, her family returned in 2019.

Laura Harrison, Republican nominee

A mom of four, Laura Harrison serves as the chair of the Lakeland School System’s board. She is a strategic-planning manager for a Fortune 500 company and has been on the school system’s board since its founding in 2013. To learn more, click here or read our past coverage.

Millington alderman, Position 1

Bethany K. Huffman

Alderwoman Bethany Huffman has been on the board since 2013 and is unopposed as she seeks reelection. Professionally, she is a certified public accountant.

Millington alderman, Position 2

Cody Childress

Cody Childress has served on the suburb’s school board since the district’s inception, but decided to seek an alderman seat as his school board term will expire later this year. He is a retired Memphis firefighter and was also a small business owner in Millington until he sold the business six years ago. Childress wants school funding to align with what citizens voted for in 2012, an issue other districts have raised. Visit his Facebook page for more information.

Willis “Steve” Declue

Steve Declue retired from the U.S. Navy in 2006 after 24 years. He spent four years with naval-recruiting command and 14 years as a human resources assistant, helping coordinate active duty sailors to the Navy reserves. He wants a compromise on school funding. See more by visiting his Facebook page.

Tammy Sneed 

Tammy Sneed has been an aircraft-material manager at FedEx for 15 years. She said the school system and its performance was what drove her to run for alderman. Find more information about her on Facebook page.

Millington Alderman, Position 3

Chris Ford

Alderman Chris Ford is unopposed for his position. He was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Jon Crisp in 2022 and won a four-year term later that year. He is a State Farm insurance agent.

Millington alderman, Position 4

Chris Everitt

Chris Everitt is a sheet-metal worker with Union Local 4 who is making his first run at public office. The Tipton County native has lived in Millington for four years. He previously also ran a local lawn service as a sort of non-profit, using the proceeds in various ways to help the community.

Gordon “Gordo” Higgins 

Gordo Higgins is running for Millington alderman, Position 3. He is making his first run at a public office. He works in code enforcement for Shelby County and is a part-time employee and firearms instructor at The Gun Store & Range in Millington.

John “Johnny” Perales 

Johnny Perales is serving his first partial term as alderman after being appointed to the position in February 2025. He is a former executive secretary deputy commander Navy Recruiting Command at NSA Mid-South. The retired Texas native served 24 years in the Navy and has worked for 26 years as a civil servant. He has served on the Millington Industrial Development Board since 2001 and has been a member of the Millington Planning and Zoning Commission since 2019. He also served on the Millington Airport Authority board for a decade.

Millington Alderman, Position 7 (unexpired term)

Chris Denson

Chris Denson has served on the Millington Municipal Schools board since 2016 where he has been involved in educational oversight and community programs. He has nearly four decades of experience working in health care, including his current role as global director of education and administration for Fujifilm Healthcare Corp. of America. He previously was an administrator and radiology tech with Baptist Healthcare. Denson is also a member of the Tennessee School Board Association Board of Trustees.

Charles P. Reed

Charles Reed, a retired Navy veteran, is running for an alderman seat for the third time. He previously ran for Position 7 in 2024 and for Position 5 in 1996. Reed, who has lived in Millington for 42 years, served on the Millington Industrial Development Board from 2017 to 2023.

Gavin Smith

Incumbent Gavin Smith is serving his first partial term as alderman after being appointed in November 2025. He is a former Shelby County assistant district attorney and now serves as an assistant U.S. attorney. The career prosecutor currently handles cases related to firearms and violent crimes and formerly dealt with cases related to sex crimes and child abuse. He is a former chairman of the Millington Industrial Development Board.

Ann Turner

Ann Turner brings 22 years of experience in city and county government to her first run at an elected position. She works as a real estate agent with Kaizen Realty and is a recent graduate of Leadership Millington. Turner is a member and former chairman of Millington City Beautiful.

Millington school board, Position 2

Debby Clifton, independent 

Debbie Clifton is the sole candidate for Position 2, which she already holds. She was first elected in 2022. Outside the board, she works as the student-data and outreach attendance coordinator at Cornerstone Prep Denver Elementary in Frayser.

Millington school board, Position 4

Don Holsinger, Republican nominee

Don Holsinger is the Republican candidate for Position 4. He served on the school board previously, including as chair in 2015. He stepped down at the end of that year and mounted an unsuccessful campaign for the Millington Board of Mayor and Aldermen in 2016. In 2018, he lost to Barbara Halliburton during another run for school board.

Marie L. Thomas, Democratic nominee 

Marie Thomas is the Democratic candidate for Position 4. Thomas is a legislative specialist for the Shelby County Commission. She also works as a life coach and as co-program director for local organization Successful Single Moms, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Millington school board, Position 6

Mandy Compton, Democratic nominee

Mandy Compton is the sole candidate for Position 6, which she already holds. She has been in the education field for more than 40 years, holding multiple roles at the classroom, administrative and district levels, according to Millington Municipal Schools. Outside school board, she now works as a teaching supervisor and adjunct professor for Christian Brothers University.

Charter Referendum Ordinance No. 5966: Library-workers amendment

This amendment would make Memphis Public Libraries system employees part of the city’s civil-service system.

Currently, library employees are appointees of the mayor of Memphis. Mayoral appointees serve at the mayor’s will. The mayor can dismiss them at any time. However, the amendment exempts library officers.

Civil-service status means dismissed workers can appeal that and other city decisions. Some library workers seeking the status change have also complained workers doing the same job get different pay because of their appointed status.

Charter Referendum Ordinance No. 5977: Lobbyist registration and disclosure

This amendment would require the Memphis City Council to create and approve an ordinance establishing a system that requires lobbyists appearing before the council and interacting with the council to register with the city and disclose who they are working for.

Councilman Chase Carlisle unsuccessfully sought lobbyist disclosures in an ordinance he introduced during his first council term, which started in 2020.

It was a reaction to the flood of lobbyists at City Hall early in his term who were working for various sides in the discussion about Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division possibly dropping the Tennessee Valley Authority as the utility’s electric-power provider. Carlisle said it was difficult to tell who was lobbying and who was actually a concerned or interested citizen.

Charter Referendum Ordinance No. 5978: Civil-service appeals

If approved, the mayor and council would develop “uniform and comprehensive administrative procedures” for appeals of civil-service board decisions about employees and their status as city employees.

Early discussion of this amendment included hiring trained arbitrators to resolve differences if necessary. Like the lobbyist amendment, the amendment leaves the details to the mayor and council.

U.S. Senate

Scott Colom, Democratic nominee

Scott Colom serves as district attorney of the state’s 16th Judicial District, which includes Clay, Lowndes, Noxubee and Oktibbeha counties. Colom won the seat in 2015, prevailing over former District Attorney Forrest Allgood, who had served for nearly 30 years. Former President Joe Biden nominated Colom to a federal judgeship for North Mississippi, but the nomination was blocked by a lack of support from Hyde-Smith. For more on Colom, check out The Daily Memphian’s past coverage.

Cindy Hyde-Smith, Republican nominee

Cindy Hyde-Smith first took office in 2018 after former Gov. Phil Bryant appointed her to fill the seat vacated by U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, becoming the first woman to represent the state in Congress. She then won election to finish out Cochran’s term that same year and won reelection to her own six-year term in 2020. For more, read The Daily Memphian’s past coverage.

Ty Pinkins, Independent candidate

Ty Pinkins is a U.S. Army veteran and Bronze Star recipient who completed three combat tours in Iraq, according to his campaign site. He also worked as a presidential communications aide for the White House and a staff attorney for the Mississippi Center for Justice. He founded the Pyramid Project, a youth-mentoring-focused nonprofit. 

U.S. House, 1st Congressional District

Johnny Baucom, Libertarian candidate

Johnny Baucom is an Army National Guard veteran who worked as a vehicle mechanic from 2014 to 2020. After that, he was general manager of an Express Oil Change and Tire Engineers and now works as a safety technician for Peco Foods Inc., a chicken company.

Cliff Johnson, Democratic nominee

Cliff Johnson is a longtime attorney and director of the MacArthur Justice Center at the University of Mississippi School of Law, a legal organization focused on civil rights issues in criminal justice cases. He also served as an assistant U.S. attorney in Mississippi and founded his own practice that focused on employee rights, according to his website. For more, read The Daily Memphian’s past coverage.

Trent Kelly, Republican nominee

Trent Kelly is a combat veteran and attorney who retired from the Mississippi National Guard as a major general in 2025 after 39 years. He was first elected in 2015 in a special election. Kelly also served as district attorney of the state’s 1st Judicial District and as city prosecutor for Tupelo. For more, read The Daily Memphian’s past coverage.

Court of Appeals – District 1, Place One

John Weddle

John Weddle is the Place One judge and took office in 2024 when Gov. Tate Reeves appointed him to replace retired Judge Jim Greenlee. He was district attorney of the state’s first judicial district from 2015 until his appointment to the bench. He also served as public defender for Lee County and as a Municipal Court judge in Tupelo. 

Derek Dewayne Hopson Jr.

Derek Hopson Jr. is an attorney with the Hopson Law Group in Clarksdale, which his father founded. According to its website, the firm focuses mostly on civil litigation. He earned his law degree from the University of Mississippi and his undergraduate degree from Delta State University.

Court of Appeals – District 1, Place Two

Donna M. Barnes

Barnes is the chief judge of the Court of Appeals and the first woman to serve in that position. She has been in office since 2004. She is running unopposed.

Chancery Court, District 17, Place One (countywide)

Vicki Daniels

Vicki Daniels is the current chancellor for Place One. She is running unopposed.

Chancery Court, District 17, Place Two (countywide)

Elizabeth “Beth” Owens

Beth Owens has been an attorney since 2009. She worked with the local Treadway Law Firm before starting her own practice in 2014. She has mostly concentrated on Chancery Court litigation. She also served as public defender for Olive Branch and now serves as prosecutor. 

William “Ty” Scott

Ty Scott has been an attorney for 11 years, starting in private practice in Hernando with law firm Walker, Brown and Brown. He’s also served as special master in Chancery Court and works as a staff attorney for the court. He has been in the Mississippi National Guard for 19 years and holds the rank of major.

Chancery Court, District 17, Place Three – Subdistrict 17-1*

Gwendolyn Baptist

Gwendolyn Baptist is an attorney who has practiced since 2000 with her own firm. Prior to that, she worked for the IRS and as an adjunct professor at LeMoyne-Owen College, teaching real estate, accounting and business law.

Malenda Harris Meacham

Malenda Harris Meacham has been an attorney for 32 years, many of them spent as a judge. She spent 19 years as a special master in DeSoto County Chancery Court, essentially a part-time judge, overseeing cases one day a week. She also runs her own practice that primarily handles cases in Chancery Court. To learn more, read The Daily Memphian’s past coverage. 

*The subdistrict 17-1 race appears only on ballots in select precincts.

Circuit Court, District 21, Place One (countywide)

Joseph “Jody” Neyman

Jody Neyman has practiced law since 1996 and is a partner at the law firm Palmertree, Neyman and Jolly. He also serves as a Municipal Court judge in Southaven. Previously, he served as litigation counsel to the DeSoto County Board of Supervisors and as legal counsel for the DeSoto County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Gordon Shaw Jr.

Gordon Shaw Jr. is an assistant district attorney for the DeSoto County District Attorney’s Office. He served as a county public defender and practiced in private. He earned his law degree in 2008 from Mississippi Christian University.

Circuit Court, District 21, Place Two (countywide)

Craig Treadway 

Craig Treadway is the county’s former Youth Court judge whom Gov. Tate Reeves appointed last month to the Circuit Court. He filled the seat vacated by Judge Celeste Wilson, whom Reeves appointed to the state Supreme Court. He is running unopposed.

Circuit Court, District 21, Place Three (countywide)

Douglas Hollowell III

Hollowell is the Place Three judge. He is running unopposed.

Circuit Court, District 21, Place Four – Subdistrict 21-1*

Lucius Edwards

Lucius Edwards has practiced law for more than 50 years, most of that time in Mississippi. He earned his law degree from the George Washington University Law School in 1974. He has extensive experience in Circuit Court cases, including both civil and criminal litigation. 

John Hughes

John Hughes has been a lawyer for 24 years with his own general practice handling both civil and criminal litigation. He serves as a Municipal Court judge in Walls and as a public defender in Circuit Court. 

*The subdistrict 21-1 race appears only on ballots in select precincts.

County Court judge, Place One

Allen Couch

Allen Couch is the County Court judge. He is running unopposed.

County attorney 

Tori Williams

Tori Williams is an assistant county attorney. She is running to replace Russell Jordan, who has held the role on an interim basis since May when former DeSoto County Attorney James Holland retired. Jordan is not seeking the seat, and Williams is running unopposed.

Justice Court judge, District 1*

Robert “Billy” Johnson

Billy Johnson is Justice Court judge for District 1. The DeSoto County Board of Supervisors appointed him in 2025. In addition to the judgeship, Johnson runs a solo general practice law firm, mostly focusing on criminal defense.

James Woodard

James Woodard is a former Eupora, Mississippi, city councilman and former Webster County supervisor. He ran against DeSoto County Supervisor Mark Gardner in 2019. He also ran for Justice Court against current District 4 Judge Brad Russell in 2023. He has a bachelor’s degree in education from Mississippi State. 

*This race appears only on ballots in select precincts

School board, District 5*

Charles Barton

Charles Barton has been on the school board since 2019. He spent more than 30 years as a coach, teacher and administrator, including as headmaster of Tunica Academy, a private Christian school in Tunica County. He also worked in real estate for 14 years.

Rebecca Tello

Rebecca Tello is an emergency room nurse at Baptist Hospital in Memphis. This is her first time running for elected office. 

*This race appears only on ballots in select precincts