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Why Memphis' next mayor may not need to even get close to a majority of the vote to win [1]

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Date: 2023-02-06  

Voters tried to change the electoral laws when they backed a 2018 referendum to introduce an instant-runoff system, but Tennessee election officials soon ruled that it could not be implemented; last year, the GOP-dominated state legislature made sure it couldn't come into force by banning ranked choice voting in the state. Local activists responded by proposing another ballot measure that would require a runoff for a later date in races where no one earned a majority, but the City Council last summer voted against placing it on the 2022 ballot.

Six notable contenders were running before Colvett and Herenton started their campaigns:

Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner

State Rep. Karen Camper

Businessman J.W. Gibson II

Memphis-Shelby County School Board member Michelle McKissack

former Shelby County Commissioner Van Turner

Downtown Memphis Commission CEO Paul Young

The field may yet shrink before Election Day, though, as Turner and Young last year both pledged to drop out if they believed their continuing presence would divide Black voters.

Colvett and Herenton are the first prominent candidates who have entered the race since Memphis police officers beat Tyre Nichols to death last month. Colvett asked just ahead of his launch, “How do we make sure that people like that don't get anywhere near a Memphis Police officer's badge?” though he doesn’t appear to have emphasized Nichols’ killing in his subsequent announcement. Colvett said, “Crime is too high, and we need leaders with actual solutions. We need more good cops on the street, but also, we need to work with groups like the Boys and Girls Club to intervene with our at-risk kids before they turn to crime.”

Herenton himself alluded to the fallout from Nichols’ death in his announcement, saying, “Today, it saddens me to see my hometown in a deep and embarrassing crisis.” The 82-year-old Herenton, who resigned in 2009 ahead of what would prove to be a disastrous Democratic primary bid against Rep. Steve Cohen, also argued, “Our city is in need of proven leadership. This is not the time for on-the-job training.” The six candidates who were already running each put out statements last month expressing their anger and sadness at what happened to Nichols.

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