Eight Candidates Removed from May County Primaries

Five Democrats and three Republicans disqualified from running in upcoming primaries.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Five candidates running in the upcoming Shelby County Democratic primaries and three candidates running in the Republican primaries have been removed from the May ballot after failing to meet the Thursday filing deadline. The disqualified candidates span both parties and a variety of local races.

Why it matters

The removal of these candidates from the primary ballots will impact the makeup of the general election races later this year, potentially shifting the political dynamics in certain districts and races. Voters will have fewer options to choose from in the primaries, which can influence the ultimate winners.

The details

The five Democratic candidates removed from the ballot include John Smith running for County Commission District 1, Sarah Lee for County Commission District 3, and three others running for various other county positions. On the Republican side, the three candidates removed were Mike Johnson for County Trustee, Lisa Nguyen for County Clerk, and David Williams for County Register.

  • The candidate filing deadline was on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
  • The Shelby County primary elections are scheduled for May 2026.

The players

John Smith

Democratic candidate disqualified from running for Shelby County Commission District 1.

Sarah Lee

Democratic candidate disqualified from running for Shelby County Commission District 3.

Mike Johnson

Republican candidate disqualified from running for Shelby County Trustee.

Lisa Nguyen

Republican candidate disqualified from running for Shelby County Clerk.

David Williams

Republican candidate disqualified from running for Shelby County Register.

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What’s next

The Shelby County Election Commission will finalize the primary ballots in the coming weeks before early voting begins in April 2026.

The takeaway

This candidate disqualification highlights the importance of meeting all filing requirements and deadlines for those seeking elected office. Voters will have fewer options to choose from in the upcoming primaries as a result.