Candidates Certified for Shelby County Primary Elections

Crowded field of Democrats and Republicans to compete in May 5 primaries

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The Shelby County Election Commission has approved a slate of candidates who will compete in the county's primary elections on May 5. The list includes several Democrats and Republicans vying for the county mayor's office, as well as other local races.

Why it matters

The Shelby County primaries will help determine the candidates who will advance to the general election in the fall, shaping the political leadership of the Memphis metro area for the next several years.

The details

On Monday, the Shelby County Election Commission certified the candidate lists for the upcoming primary elections on May 5. The vote still requires approval from the Democratic and Republican parties, and candidates can still withdraw before the primaries. For the county mayor's race, the Democratic primary will feature JB Smiley Jr., Melvin Burgess, Harold Collins, Mickell Lowery, Marie Feagins, Heidi Kuhn and Rusty Qualls, while the Republican primary will have Joe Brown and John DeBerry.

  • The Shelby County Election Commission approved the candidate list on Monday, February 24, 2026.
  • The primary elections will be held on May 5, 2026.

The players

Shelby County Election Commission

The government agency responsible for overseeing elections in Shelby County, Tennessee.

JB Smiley Jr.

A Democratic candidate for Shelby County mayor.

Melvin Burgess

A Democratic candidate for Shelby County mayor.

Joe Brown

A Republican candidate for Shelby County mayor.

John DeBerry

A Republican candidate for Shelby County mayor.

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What’s next

The primary election will be held on May 5, 2026, and the winners will advance to the general election in the fall.

The takeaway

The crowded field of candidates in the Shelby County primaries reflects the competitive nature of local politics in the Memphis metro area, as both parties vie for control of the county government.