Most said Young is a good listener capable of improving the local economy. They described him with words such as “deliberate,” “vision,” “different,” “new” and “refresh.”

Here is a quick recap and four takeaways from the 2023 Memphis municipal election.

“There is no indication that younger voters went to the polls in any significant numbers. But many of those who did show up clearly favored Young.”

The Daily Memphian caught up with the major candidates who found themselves behind Paul Young when all the votes were counted. Floyd Bonner Jr. and Willie Herenton, who finished second and third, respectively, weigh in on whether they’ll make another run at elected office.

With no runoff to face, Paul Young will become the next Memphis mayor with just over 27% of the vote. And that doesn’t even factor in the low turnout for Thursday’s election.

Paul Young will be the new mayor of Memphis. And you should feel optimistic about that. Yes, optimistic. It may have gone out of fashion. But Young just might bring it back. 

Walker and Kirkwood will battle for the Memphis City Council district that covers Whitehaven and parts of Parkway Village, Oakhaven and Hickory Hill. 

Of the eight council incumbents seeking re-election, Michalyn Easter-Thomas appeared headed to a Nov. 16 runoff with challenger Jimmy Hassan in District 7.

The race for the District 2 Memphis City Council seat will advance to a runoff after no single candidate emerged with a majority of the vote. 

Results are in for all races in the Memphis municipal election Oct. 5, 2023, including vote totals for Memphis mayor, Memphis City Council districts 1-7 and all three positions of Memphis City Council super districts 8 and 9.

Phillip Spinosa held off Meggan Kiel to win an expensive race for the East Memphis council seat.

“This is not a me thing. This is a we thing,” Paul Young said from his campaign headquarters Thursday, Oct. 5.

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Blog: Election night in Memphis wraps with new mayor, three council seats headed for runoff

“We thank you, thank you, thank you,” Floyd Bonner Jr. said. “All of us want the best for Memphis.”

The 14-day early voting period drew nearly 58,000 voters with a turnout bigger than Thursday’s Election Day across the city.

“Some precincts will have a large rush after work. Some will be steady all day long. Some have a huge rush in the morning and you could take a nap in the afternoon.”

Only 54 voters are assigned to precinct 13-10 and a poll worker reported that 24 of them either voted early or by absentee.

Here’s a look back at Election Day in Memphis, from voter turnout to results in the mayoral and City Council races.

Related story: 

Analysis: City election day dominated by race for Memphis mayor

Polls are open Thursday, Oct. 5, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. across the city. Voters are deciding 11 contested races for Memphis City Council and a mayor’s race that will see a new leader elected to start in January.

If you are going to vote on the city’s Thursday, Oct. 5, election day, here are the basics — what to expect and how to prepare to cast your ballot.

Election Day is tomorrow, when voters will select 13 City Council members and a new city mayor. Here’s everything you need to know about this Memphis municipal election.

Two polls made public – one in August and one in early September – showed essentially a four-way race for mayor among Floyd Bonner, Willie Herenton, Van Turner and Paul Young.

After agreeing on the short-term spending bill last week that lead to the Tuesday, Oct. 3, vote on ousting House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Congressmen Steve Cohen and David Kustoff parted company on McCarthy’s political fate.

The 2007 Memphis elections saw Willie Herenton elected mayor for the fifth time and the largest turnover of Memphis City Council seats in the 55-year history of the mayor-council form of government.

None of the other 13 Memphis mayoral candidates on the ballot were in six figures, but these four spent six-figure sums on their campaigns throughout the summer.

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Election season’s final act starts as curtain goes down on early voting

The last day of early voting is Saturday, Sept. 30, at 18 sites across the city. Next, the Oct. 5 election day will close out the campaigns for Memphis mayor and all 13 seats on the Memphis City Council.