2023 Memphis mayoral election
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Turnout | 23.8%![]() | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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![]() Results by precinct Young:20–30%30–40%40–50%50–60% Bonner:20–30%30–40%40–50%50–60% Herenton:20–30%30–40%40–50% Turner:20–30%30–40% Tie:20–30%40–50%No votes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Elections in Tennessee |
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The2023 Memphis mayoral electiontook place on October 5, 2023, to elect the nextmayorofMemphis, Tennessee.IncumbentJim Stricklandwas term-limited and could not seek re-election to a third term in office.[2][3][4]The election used theplurality votesystem, with no possibility of a runoff. The election was officiallynon-partisan,but several candidates were affiliated with political parties.[5]
Municipal government officialPaul Youngwon the election, with all other major candidates conceding on the night of the election. Young prevailed with a low plurality of the vote against numerous other candidates, includingShelby CountySheriff Floyd Bonner, former mayorWillie Herenton,and former Shelby County commission chair Van Turner.[6]
Background[edit]
Ordinance 5823[edit]
Memphis law states that mayors can only serve two terms. However, theMemphis City Councilvoted to put anordinanceon the ballot that, if passed, would extend the limit to three terms. Incumbent mayorJim Stricklandexpressed interest in running for a third term if Memphis voters approved the ordinance.[2][3]The ordinance was decided on August 4, 2022, the same day as Tennessee's regularly-scheduled primary elections. Voters overwhelmingly rejected it, keeping the two-term limit in place and barring Strickland from seeking re-election.[4]
Memphis Ordinance 5823[7] | |||
Choice | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|
Against | 52,582 | 66.27% | |
For | 26,759 | 33.73% | |
Total votes | 79,341 | 100.00% |
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9e/Memphis_Ordinance_5823.svg/200px-Memphis_Ordinance_5823.svg.png)
- 70–80%
- 60–70%
- 50–60%
Early voting[edit]
Early voting ran from September 16, 2023 to September 30, 2023. Turnout was the highest since 2007, with 57,951 votes being submitted. This compares to 52,718 early votes in 2019 and 51,840 in 2015.[8]
Candidates[edit]
Declared[edit]
The following 17 candidates are on the ballot:[9][a]
- Carnita Atwater, community organizer and Democratic candidate forGovernor of Tennesseein2022(I)[9][10]
- Jennings Bernard, private probation company owner (I)[11]
- Floyd Bonner,Shelby CountySheriff (D)[12]
- Joe Brown,former host ofJudge Joe Brownand formerShelby CountyCriminal Court judge (I)[13]
- Kendra Calico, hunger relief charity president (I)[9][14]
- Karen Camper,Minority Leader of theTennessee House of Representatives(D)[15]
- J.W. Gibson, formerShelby Countycommissioner[16]
- Reggie Hall, life coach[17]
- James Harvey, former Democratic chair of theShelby CountyCommission (R)[18]
- Willie Herenton,former mayor (D)[19]
- Michelle McKissack, chair of theShelby CountyBoard of Education (D)[20][21]
- Brandy (Brandon) Price, activist (D)[9][22]
- Justina Ragland[9]
- Tekeva Shaw, life coach[9][23]
- Van Turner, former chair of theShelby CountyCommission (D)[24]
- Derek Winn, bakery assistant (I)[9][25]
- Paul Young,president and CEO of the Downtown Memphis Commission and former director of the Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development[26](D)[27]
Withdrawn[edit]
- Frank Colvett,city councilor(R); withdrew July 27, 2023[28]
Endorsements[edit]
- Federal politicians
- Steve Cohen,U.S. Representative forTennessee's 9th congressional district[30]
- State legislators
- Justin Pearson,state representative[30]
- County officials
- Lee Harris,mayor ofShelby County[30]
- Labor unions
- Organizations
- Planned ParenthoodTennessee(co-endorsement with Paul Young)[30]
- Stand for Children[30]
- Individuals
- Craig Brewer,film director[31]
- NLE Choppa,rapper[31]
- Elliot Perry,former professional basketball player[31]
- Organizations
- Planned ParenthoodTennessee(co-endorsement with Van Turner)[31]
- Shelby CountyYoung Democrats[31]
Polling[edit]
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
Floyd Bonner |
Joe Brown |
Karen Camper |
Frank Colvett |
J.W. Gibson |
Willie Herenton |
Michelle McKissack |
Van Turner |
Paul Young |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hart Research | Sept. 5-7 2023 | - | ± 5% | 19% | 4% | 1% | - | 5% | 13% | 3% | 9% | 20% | 23% |
Emerson College | August 11-13 2023 | 600 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 10% | 10% | ≤1% | - | 5% | 16% | 3% | 7% | 14% | 26% |
HIT Strategies | May 2023 | 400 (LV) | ± 4.9% | 9% | 4% | 1% | 4% | 1% | 13% | 2% | 9% | 8% | 48% |
Caissa Public Strategy | May 2023 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 15% | 9% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 15% | 6% | 17% | 8% | 21% |
Caissa Public Strategy | February 2023 | 1,000 (LV) | ± 4.7% | 15% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 2% | 14% | 4% | 16% | 12% | 13% |
Campaign finance[edit]
Candidate | Total Receipts | Total Disbursements | Cash on Hand[c] | Loans Outstanding |
---|---|---|---|---|
Floyd Bonner | $757,346 | $600,102 | $157,244 | $34,951 |
Karen Camper | $125,567 | $109,716 | $15,851 | $4,500 |
Frank Colvett | $157,450 | $125,924 | $31,526 | $0 |
J.W. Gibson | $401,473 | $398,380 | $3,093 | $300,000 |
Willie Herenton | $105,293 | $54,652 | $50,641 | $0 |
Michelle McKissack | $155,957 | $133,434 | $22,523 | $25,000 |
Van Turner | $564,435 | $450,790 | $133,645 | $0 |
Paul Young | $1,059,250 | $855,283 | $203,967 | $0 |
Results[edit]
Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|
Paul Young | 24,408 | 27.6% | |
Floyd Bonner | 19,895 | 22.5% | |
Willie Herenton | 18,990 | 21.5% | |
Van Turner | 18,778 | 21.3% | |
J.W. Gibson | 2,175 | 2.5% | |
Michelle McKissack | 1,437 | 1.6% | |
Joe Brown | 1,028 | 1.2% | |
Karen Camper | 591 | 0.7% | |
James Harvey | 325 | 0.4% | |
Brandon Price | 129 | 0.1% | |
Carnita Atwater | 122 | 0.1% | |
Tekeva Shaw | 95 | 0.1% | |
Jennings Bernard | 89 | 0.1% | |
Reggie Hall | 77 | 0.1% | |
Kendra Calico | 57 | 0.1% | |
Derek Winn | 57 | 0.1% | |
Justina Ragland | 53 | 0.1% | |
Write-in | 77 | 0.1% | |
Total votes | 88,383 | 100% |
See also[edit]
- 2023 Jackson, Tennessee mayoral election
- 2023 Knoxville, Tennessee mayoral election
- 2023 Nashville, Tennessee mayoral election
Notes[edit]
References[edit]
- ^"Turnout | Shelby County Election Commission, TN".electionsshelbytn.gov.RetrievedJanuary 17,2024.
- ^ab"Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland considering running for third term, if city council extends term limits".localmemphis.May 26, 2022.RetrievedJuly 4,2022.
- ^abHardiman, Samuel (May 24, 2022)."Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland will 'seriously consider' possibility of a third-term".The Commercial Appeal.Archivedfrom the original on May 26, 2022.RetrievedJuly 4,2022.
- ^ab"After hours-long delay, the results are in | Here's a look at who won Shelby County's hot races".August 5, 2022.
- ^"Memphis Municipal Election 10.5.2023 | Shelby County Election Commission, TN".electionsshelbytn.gov.RetrievedAugust 14,2023.
- ^Anderson, Courtney (October 5, 2023)."Paul Young claims victory in Memphis mayoral election".WREG.RetrievedOctober 5,2023.
- ^"State and Federal Primary and County General".Archived from the original on August 20, 2022.RetrievedDecember 17,2022.
{{cite web}}
:CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^"Early voting total highest since 2007 Memphis elections".Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian.RetrievedOctober 2,2023.
- ^abcdefg"City of Memphis Municipal Election, October 5, 2023"(PDF).Shelby County.RetrievedAugust 1,2023.
- ^Henry, Wiley (March 9, 2023)."Memphis Meeting to Discuss a Third Political Party Draws Scant Support for Now".The Tennessee Tribune.RetrievedAugust 14,2023.
- ^"Here's who else is running to be Memphis' next mayor".Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian.RetrievedSeptember 5,2023.
- ^Hardiman, Samuel (October 25, 2022)."Floyd Bonner will run for Memphis mayor".The Commercial Appeal.Archivedfrom the original on December 5, 2022.
- ^"More to Come".
- ^"Here's who else is running to be Memphis' next mayor".Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian.RetrievedSeptember 5,2023.
- ^"TN House Minority Leader Karen Camper announces run for Memphis mayor".
- ^Hardiman, Samuel (December 15, 2022)."Businessman J.W. Gibson II planning run for Memphis mayor".The Commercial Appeal.Archivedfrom the original on March 14, 2023.
- ^"Here's who else is running to be Memphis' next mayor".Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian.RetrievedSeptember 5,2023.
- ^Baker, Jackson (March 8, 2023)."Going the Distance".Memphis Flyer.RetrievedAugust 1,2023.
- ^Finton, Lucas (February 6, 2023)."Former Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton announces bid to return to office".The Commercial Appeal.Archivedfrom the original on March 14, 2023.
- ^"MSCS board member Michelle McKissack makes it official: She's running for Memphis mayor".
- ^"Michelle McKissack for Memphis Mayor — ActBlue".
- ^"Here's who else is running to be Memphis' next mayor".Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian.RetrievedSeptember 5,2023.
- ^"Here's who else is running to be Memphis' next mayor".Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian.RetrievedSeptember 5,2023.
- ^"Shelby County Commissioner Van Turner confirms he is running for mayor".
- ^"Here's who else is running to be Memphis' next mayor".Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian.RetrievedSeptember 5,2023.
- ^Hardiman, Samuel (September 1, 2022)."Paul Young, a longtime public servant, will run for Memphis mayor in 2023".The Commercial Appeal.Archivedfrom the original on September 26, 2022.
- ^"Paul Young for Memphis Mayor — ActBlue".
- ^"Frank Colvett drops out of mayor's race, says field is too crowded".Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian.RetrievedJuly 27,2023.
- ^ab"The Commercial Appeal".commercialappeal.RetrievedSeptember 26,2023.
- ^abcdef"Van Turner nets endorsements in Memphis mayoral race from top officials, city employee union".The Commercial Appeal.RetrievedSeptember 26,2023.
- ^abcde"Paul Young endorsements range from Young Democrats, Planned Parenthood to NLE Choppa".The Commercial Appeal.RetrievedSeptember 26,2023.
- ^"Financial Disclosures | Shelby County Election Commission, TN".electionsshelbytn.gov.RetrievedJuly 27,2023.
- ^"Four mayoral candidates spent $1.76M combined over summer".Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian.RetrievedOctober 2,2023.
- ^Gowins, Max (October 5, 2023)."Election Results: Memphis Municipal Elections".Decision Desk HQ.RetrievedNovember 10,2023.
External links[edit]
- Official campaign websites