Mayor. The mayor is the city's chief elected official. In a strong-mayor city the mayor runs the city government, prepares the budget and appoints department heads; in a council-manager city the mayor presides over the council and a hired manager runs operations. Which model applies depends on the city charter.
Tennessee › Shelby County › Shelby County Mayor
DECIDED at the August 6, 2026 county general election: Mickell M. Lowery won with 66.1 percent over John J. Deberry Jr. (33.9 percent), per fox13memphis.com reporting of the Shelby County Election Commission's results (re-verify against the commission's certified results). This office will not appear on the November 3 ballot. On Shelby County's August 6, 2026 county general ballot, per the Election Commission's certified sample ballot. The printed ballot also provides a write-in line. RESULTS ARE IN: this race was decided on August 6, 2026. Totals from the county Election Commission are unofficial until the county canvass, due no later than Monday, August 24 (Tenn. Code 2-8-101); Tennessee has no automatic recount.
Democratic
Lowery has served on the Shelby County Commission since being elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022, representing District 8, which includes Downtown Memphis, Frayser, South Memphis, North Memphis and Central Gardens, per the campaign site. He was named the Democratic nominee for Shelby County Mayor on May 5, 2026.
Republican
John J. Deberry Jr. is the Republican nominee for Shelby County Mayor on Shelby County's August 6, 2026 county general ballot, per the Election Commission's certified sample ballot.
Who is running for Shelby County Mayor in 2026?
The Shelby County Mayor race was decided at the 2026 primary - Mickell M. Lowery won the seat - and does not appear on the November 3, 2026 ballot. 2 candidates were on the primary ballot: John J. Deberry Jr. and Mickell M. Lowery. Candidate information follows official Shelby County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the Shelby County Mayor election in Tennessee?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Tennessee are on the Tennessee election hub at theballotbrief.com.
How do I see my exact Shelby County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.
Candidate roster from official Shelby County and state election office filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.
Cross-check with the official Tennessee election office, or see the full Shelby County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.
16 tracked races in Shelby County, Tennessee. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.