Shelby County Primary Candidates Face Qualifying Deadline

Several candidates vying for local offices in Memphis-area races

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The qualifying deadline is approaching for a number of candidates running in the Shelby County, Tennessee primary elections. The races include local offices such as county commission and city council seats in the Memphis metropolitan area.

Why it matters

These local elections can have a significant impact on the policies and priorities of the Memphis region, making the candidate qualification process an important milestone leading up to the primaries.

The details

Candidates have until the end of this week to submit the necessary paperwork and signatures to officially qualify for the Shelby County primary ballot. A number of individuals are vying for positions on the county commission as well as city council seats in Memphis and surrounding municipalities.

  • The qualifying deadline for the Shelby County primary is this Friday, February 21, 2026.

The players

Shelby County Election Commission

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

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What’s next

After the qualifying deadline passes, the Shelby County Election Commission will finalize the primary ballot and begin preparations for the upcoming election season.

The takeaway

The approaching candidate qualification deadline is an important milestone for voters in the Memphis area to stay informed about who is running for local offices and the key issues in these races.