Britney Thornton is a Democratic candidate for Shelby County Clerk, currently serving as the youngest County Commissioner in Shelby County history since her election in August 2022. A native Memphian from Historic Orange Mound, Thornton holds degrees from Baylor University and the University of Pennsylvania. Her professional background includes work as a master social worker, licensed educator, and former law student, alongside extensive experience as a community organizer. She founded JUICE Orange Mound, a non-profit organization through which she mobilized residents to invest over $12,200 in spare change to fund local initiatives. Thornton has called Memphis home for 33 years and identifies her passion as challenging systems of oppression through creative problem-solving. As County Commissioner for District 10, she has focused on housing, transit, and economic development, aiming to increase civic engagement among residents. Her campaign materials describe her as innovative, personable, and driven, with a commitment to leveraging her position to organize the district and help constituents understand their neighborhood connections. Thornton expresses gratitude to her supporters and directs voters to her website for updates on District 10 happenings.

Bob Green is a Democratic candidate seeking election as Shelby County Clerk. His candidacy is currently documented in public records filed with the Tennessee Ethics Commission, which lists him as both a Shelby County official and a candidate for the office of County Clerk. The available biographical material provided for this summary does not include detailed professional history, educational background, or specific policy positions that would typically inform voters about his qualifications or platform priorities for the role. As the primary source of information is limited to his status as a declared candidate and official filing, there are no notable public controversies, awards, or extensive records of service described in the provided text to highlight. Voters seeking more comprehensive details regarding Green’s experience, proposed initiatives, or campaign finance disclosures would need to consult additional resources beyond this brief summary. The current record confirms his intent to run for County Clerk under the Democratic party affiliation but offers no further insight into his background or governance philosophy.

Arriell Gipson-Martin is the Democratic candidate for Shelby County Clerk, seeking to replace outgoing Clerk Wanda Halbert. She previously ran for this office in the 2022 Democratic primary, where she received 11.5% of the vote (5,371 votes) but lost to Halbert. Her campaign officially launched on December 17, 2025, at the Edge Motor Museum, positioning her as a challenger with direct experience in local government operations. Gipson-Martin’s professional background includes serving as a senior program manager for Shelby County, along with prior roles as a community engagement manager and public health coordinator within Shelby County Government. This history provides her with extensive internal knowledge of county administration and service delivery mechanisms. In her current campaign, she emphasizes three core themes: integrity in how government presents itself to the public, innovation in the delivery of services, and creating tangible impacts that improve everyday life for residents. Her platform suggests a focus on modernizing administrative processes while maintaining ethical standards in governance. Voters considering this race will be evaluating her past electoral performance against her proposed reforms and her demonstrated experience within the county’s bureaucratic framework.

Bennie Smith is a Democratic candidate for Shelby County Clerk, currently serving as the Motor Vehicle Registration Administrator for the county’s largest operational division and as Secretary of the Tennessee State Election Commission since April 2022. His professional background includes significant experience in corporate analytics, where he held senior roles at ABB and Thomas & Betts, managing enterprise reporting models and identifying millions in excess inventory. Smith also has extensive technical expertise, serving on the Technical Advisory Team for SMART Elections and advising candidates across nearly every elected office in Shelby County. His research into voting system vulnerabilities has been featured by major national media outlets and presented to Congress and election officials nationwide. Prior to his current state appointment, Smith served as Secretary of the Shelby County Election Commission starting in April 2019. His career also encompasses roles in data analytics and finance at Normac Media Group and Hilton Worldwide, as well as software development for First Tennessee Bank and International Paper. Smith has filed statements of interest with the Tennessee Ethics Commission regarding his candidacy for both state and county positions. He is seeking the Democratic nomination to lead the Shelby County Clerk’s office, leveraging his administrative and technical experience in election integrity.

Ed Holt, Jr., is a Democratic candidate seeking election as Shelby County Clerk in the May 5, 2026, primary. A Memphis resident since 2002, Holt brings a diverse professional background that includes service as a U.S. Navy veteran and a long career in education. He has taught English Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science to middle school students since 2006, returning to the classroom in 2024 while simultaneously launching his political campaign. His experience also includes working as an accountant for the Shelby County Clerk’s Office in 2023, providing him with direct insight into the department's operations. Holt is running under a platform titled "Clerk Connect," which focuses on modernizing county services through technology and legislative advocacy. A central pillar of his proposal involves implementing a Texas-style real-time plate delivery system designed to eliminate mail delays and reduce fraud. Additionally, he plans to advocate at the state level with the Tennessee General Assembly for changes regarding dealer-held plate inventory and local infrastructure improvements. Holt is married to Tammy and has four children: Marvin, Nadia, Nadia, Sabella, and Ethan. He remains active in the community as a member of the Memphis Symphony Chorus, the a cappella group DeltaCappella, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., where he also teaches self-defense classes.

George "Dempsy" Summers is a Democratic candidate seeking election as Shelby County Clerk in the May 5, 2026 primary. He faces a crowded field of eleven Democrats for the nomination, with the general election scheduled for August 6, 2026. Summers has held no prior elected office but possesses a history of running for various county positions across different party affiliations. His political record includes running as an Independent for Shelby County Register of Deeds in 2022, where he received 4,899 votes, or 3.7% of the total, against winner Willie Brooks and Republican Bryan Edmiston. Prior to that, he ran as a Republican for Probate Court clerk in 2018. In 2024, Summers withdrew from the Democratic primary race for Shelby County General Sessions Court Clerk. The Tennessee Ethics Commission lists Summers as a Shelby County official or candidate on multiple Statement of Interest forms filed in 2024 and 2026 regarding his campaigns for General Sessions Court Clerk and County Clerk. While he has not held office, his repeated bids for county roles demonstrate sustained engagement with local government administration. Information regarding his education and family background is not available in current public sources. Voters considering Summers should note his shifting party affiliations over the past several election cycles as they evaluate his qualifications for the role of County Clerk.

LaSonya Hall is a Democratic candidate for Shelby County Clerk, bringing over 25 years of executive experience in city and county government. As a senior-level executive administrator, she has led multiple City of Memphis departments and served as Health Department Director during the pandemic, notably establishing a successful mass vaccination site in Whitehaven. Her background includes holding a doctorate and identifying as the daughter of a union-member mother and granddaughter of a civil rights leader. Hall’s campaign platform focuses on three key performance indicators: reducing wait times, restoring citizen trust, and operating the office with business-like efficiency. She plans to apply strategic planning methods to redesign workflows and expand digital services. A central component of her proposal is advocating for "automated innovation," citing models from Texas, Minneapolis, and Atlanta where vehicle tags can be secured through vending machines or convenience stores. Additionally, Hall aims to protect auto dealerships from being blamed for the Clerk’s inefficiencies by leveraging relationships with county mayors and state legislators to modernize the system. Her candidacy is supported by her extensive administrative record and long-term service as a church first lady.

Michael R. Williams is the Democratic candidate seeking election as Shelby County Clerk in 2026. As a candidate for this key administrative position, he has filed the necessary Statement of Interest with the Tennessee Ethics Commission, identifying himself as a Shelby County official and candidate in accordance with state disclosure requirements. The available biographical records indicate that specific details regarding his prior professional experience, educational background, and family life are not currently listed in public sources associated with this campaign. Because comprehensive biographical data such as previous office-holding history or academic credentials is absent from the provided materials, a detailed assessment of his specific qualifications for managing county records and elections cannot be fully constructed at this time. Voters reviewing his candidacy will need to rely on other available resources to understand his platform themes or notable record items, as these are not explicitly detailed in the current source material. The primary factual information available confirms his party affiliation, his status as a candidate for the 2026 election cycle, and his compliance with initial ethics filing obligations. This summary reflects only the information present in the provided biography, without adding external context or assumptions about his policy positions or professional history.

William Stovall is a Democratic candidate seeking election as Shelby County Clerk in the upcoming 2026 race. He previously ran for this same office during the 2022 Democratic primary, where he received 11.6 percent of the vote, totaling 5,434 ballots, before losing to the incumbent, Wanda Halbert. Stovall is currently one of fourteen Democrats competing in the May 5, 2026, primary election to determine his party’s nominee for the general election. His campaign has established an online presence at stovallforclerk.com, which serves as the central hub for voter information and platform details. While specific educational background or family details are not provided in available public sources, Stovall’s prior electoral history demonstrates sustained interest in local government administration within Shelby County. Voters considering his candidacy may review his campaign materials for further insights into his qualifications and policy positions relative to the duties of the County Clerk. The current officeholder remains Wanda Halbert, who has held the position since the last election cycle. Stovall’s return to the ballot marks his second attempt to secure this role, reflecting a continued commitment to public service in Shelby County through the Democratic Party.

Tina Montgomery is a Republican candidate seeking election as Shelby County Clerk in the upcoming 2026 cycle. She is currently running in the Republican primary scheduled for May 5, 2026. Should she secure the party’s nomination, Montgomery will face the Democratic nominee in the general election on August 6, 2026. Her candidacy represents her entry into elected office, as biographical sources indicate she holds no prior elected positions. Publicly available records provide limited detail regarding Montgomery’s professional background or educational history. Information concerning her family life and specific career experiences relevant to the duties of the County Clerk is not currently documented in the provided source materials. As a candidate for this role, she has filed a Statement of Interest with the Tennessee Ethics Commission, identifying herself as a Shelby County official/candidate under form SS-8005. This filing serves as a standard disclosure requirement for individuals seeking public office in the state. No platform themes, policy positions, or notable records of achievement are explicitly outlined in the available biographical data. Consequently, voters have limited information regarding her specific qualifications or vision for the clerk’s office beyond her party affiliation and candidacy status.