Heidi Kuhn is a Democratic candidate for Shelby County Mayor and currently serves as the Criminal Court Clerk, a position she was elected to in August 2018. Her professional background is deeply rooted in public service within Shelby County government, beginning in January 2001 as the Executive Director of the Crime Victims Center. In that role, she advocated for victims’ rights before being appointed Deputy Director of Community Services, where she oversaw victim and offender services alongside community support divisions including the Aging Commission and Veterans Affairs. Kuhn later directed training initiatives, developing a county training center from concept to operation. Most recently, she served as Special Assistant and Lead Strategist to Sheriff Bill Oldham, focusing on innovative policies to enhance law enforcement and jail operations. Kuhn holds a Master’s degree in Business from Christian Brothers University and a Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of New Mexico, along with certifications in leadership, management, and ethics. She emphasizes her commitment to giving back through service on various community boards. As Clerk, she has dedicated herself to ensuring effective and efficient government operations within her office. Kuhn states she is committed to serving the people of Shelby County to the best of her ability, leveraging her extensive experience in criminal justice administration and community services to address the needs of the county as its next mayor.

JB Smiley Jr., a Democratic candidate for Shelby County Mayor, is a native Memphian and attorney with extensive local government experience. Born to a social worker and a Bronze Star army soldier, Smiley attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law, where he served as vice president of the Black Law Students Association and contributed to the Law Review. He passed both the Arkansas and Tennessee bar exams while publishing his first book, *Born With It: Unleashing Your Greatness*. Smiley launched his legal practice, Smiley & Associates, PLLC, in 2017 and was named to the Memphis Flyer’s Top 20 Under 30 class. He previously served as a policy advisor to the Shelby County Clerk before his election to the Memphis City Council in October 2019. As a council member, he holds leadership roles including Vice Chair of the City Council and Chair of the Public Works, Solid Waste & General Services Committee. His portfolio also includes oversight of planning, zoning, and liaising with the Urban Art Commission and the Film and Television Commission. Smiley’s campaign has drawn scrutiny regarding administrative decisions during his tenure. A Reddit discussion highlights questions concerning a city council staff shakeup that left some inquiries unresolved. Despite this controversy, Smiley emphasizes his background in public service and community support, citing his early work experiences from landfill cleaning to dishwashing as foundational to his understanding of hard work and teamwork. He continues to reside in the region, maintaining ties to his family and local institutions.

Melvin Burgess is a Democratic candidate for Shelby County Mayor, currently serving as the Shelby County Assessor of Property since 2018. He was re-elected to that position in August 2022 and was named Tennessee Assessor of the Year in 2021. Burgess previously served on the Shelby County Board of Commissioners for District 7 from 2010 to 2018. His professional background includes work as a former Chief Internal Auditor for Memphis/Shelby County Schools and founding the Shelby County Commission’s Audit Committee and the Shelby County Appraisal Institute. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Grambling State University and is a product of Memphis City Schools. In his campaign for the open mayor’s seat, Burgess highlights his office’s role in reducing the property tax rate from $3.39 to $2.69 per $100 assessed value prior to fiscal year 2026, attributing this partly to new growth discoveries. His platform emphasizes addressing transportation issues, tackling blight by returning properties to Community Development Corporations, and promoting inclusive governance where every resident has a seat at the table. Burgess resides in the Evergreen Historic District of Midtown Memphis with his wife Sandra and their two daughters. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and the Delta Boule Chapter of Sigma Pi Phi. His father was Melvin Burgess, a former Memphis Police Director.

Mickell M. Lowery is a Democratic candidate for County Mayor, currently serving as Chairman of the Shelby County Commission representing District 8. His political career began with his election to the Commission in August 2018, where he has focused on constituents in Downtown Memphis, Frayser, South Memphis, and Central Gardens. Lowery brings extensive professional experience to the role, having spent over two decades at FedEx in senior leadership positions, including Managing Director, Global Product Marketing, and IT Strategy Management. His corporate achievements include receiving the prestigious FedEx Five Star Award for performance among the top two percent of employees. Beyond his professional life, Lowery is deeply embedded in civic engagement. He holds degrees from LeMoyne-Owen College and the University of Arkansas and has served on numerous boards, including the Memphis Housing Authority and the Board of Trustees for LeMoyne-Owen College. His community service record includes long-term youth football coaching across multiple districts and implementing after-school tutoring programs at several local schools. Recognized by publications such as Ebony Magazine and the Memphis Business Journal for his accomplishments, Lowery also served as a past President of the Downtown Neighborhood Association. He resides in Memphis with his wife, Chonisa, and their three daughters.

Marie N. Feagins is a Democratic candidate seeking election as Shelby County Mayor in the May 5, 2026, primary. A former educator with a doctorate, Feagins previously served as Superintendent of Memphis-Shelby County Schools for less than one year before her termination in January 2025. Her campaign, announced in December 2025, emphasizes public health, safety, education, economic growth, and affordable housing. Key policy proposals include conducting an audit of the Shelby County jail, constructing 500 new homes, establishing a shuttle network to address transportation gaps, and organizing a "mayors' huddle" to develop a joint legislative agenda. Her platform is branded under the slogans "Pre-K to Paycheck" and "Literacy-to-Life Pathway." Feagins’ candidacy follows significant controversy during her tenure as school superintendent. She was fired after allegations surfaced that she misled the school board and the public regarding financial decisions. In response, Feagins filed a lawsuit in February 2025, later amended in June, against the Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education. The legal action seeks to void her termination vote and recover approximately $487,500 in damages, citing violations of her employment contract. Feagins has registered as a Shelby County official/candidate with the Tennessee Ethics Commission for this race.

Harold Collins is a Democratic candidate seeking election as Shelby County Mayor in the May 5, 2026 primary. Currently serving as the Chief Administrative Officer for Shelby County Government since June 2022, Collins oversees the daily operations of Tennessee’s largest county under Mayor Lee Harris. His administrative experience is complemented by a prior tenure on the Memphis City Council from 2007 to 2015, where he was elected twice and served as Chairman in 2010. Collins holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Memphis and a Master’s in Public Policy and Administration from Jackson State University. His professional background includes roles as Special Assistant to the Shelby County District Attorney General, focusing on juvenile crime and truancy, and Vice President of Community Engagement at the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission. A graduate of Memphis Catholic High School, he is the eleventh child of Wilbert and Iuka Collins. He is married to Kimberly Williams and has two daughters, Sydney and Erin. The candidate’s platform emphasizes his extensive experience in local government administration and public safety initiatives developed through his previous roles in city council and county executive leadership.

Rusty Qualls is a Democratic candidate seeking election as Shelby County Mayor in the May 5, 2026, primary. Describing himself as a small business owner rather than a career politician, Qualls brings a background rooted in commerce and local community life to his campaign. He owns several businesses within Shelby County, including tax services, which he cites as central to his professional experience. Qualls was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and raised in Greenville before moving to Memphis twenty-five years ago with his wife. The couple relocated to ensure their children received a better education. Prior to establishing his business interests in Memphis, Qualls worked building boats and barges. He positions himself as an outsider to traditional political structures, emphasizing his practical experience in the private sector over prior elected office tenure. His campaign website is rustyquallsforshelbycountymayor.org. Notably, Qualls has stated that he does not accept donations from political action committees, a stance intended to highlight his independence from special interest groups. He is one of seven Democrats competing for the party’s nomination in this race. The Tennessee Ethics Commission lists him as a candidate for County Mayor, with relevant conflict disclosures filed accordingly. His platform appears focused on leveraging his business background to address county governance, though specific policy details beyond his financing stance are not detailed in the provided biographical sources.

John J. Deberry Jr. is a Republican candidate for Shelby County Mayor, having officially announced his candidacy in February 2026 after filing the necessary petition. He received the full endorsement of the Republican Party of Shelby County, following an initial consideration of running for Tennessee governor. Deberry brings extensive legislative experience to the race, having served in the Tennessee State House representing District 90 for more than two decades across the 99th through 107th General Assemblies. During his tenure, he served as a committee chairman for 12 years and was appointed senior advisor to Governor Bill Lee in November 2020, a role from which he stepped down to focus on his mayoral campaign. A graduate of Freed-Hardeman University and the University of Memphis, Deberry is also described as a pastor. His political history includes a notable shift from the Democratic Party, where he was removed from the ballot in 2020 before running as an independent. While previously known for voting against his former party on issues such as abortion and school choice, he gained national attention in 2018 for introducing a bill to ban fraternities and sororities on Tennessee college campuses. Deberry cites personal connections to the Civil Rights Movement, stating he marched with his father alongside Dr. King. He is married to Maria and was 75 years old as of February 2026.