2023 Memphis mayoral election

{{Use American English|date=March 2023}}{{Infobox election

| election_name = 2023 Memphis mayoral election

| flag_image = Flag of Memphis, Tennessee.svg

| ongoing = no

| type = mayoral

| previous_election = 2019 Memphis mayoral election

| previous_year = 2019

| election_date = October 5, 2023
{{nobold|Officially nonpartisan}}

| next_election = 2027 Memphis mayoral election

| next_year = 2027

| image1 = File:Paul Young 2023 (cropped).jpg

| candidate1 = Paul Young

| popular_vote1 = 24,408

| percentage1 = 27.62%

| image2 =

| candidate2 = Floyd Bonner

| popular_vote2 = 19,895

| percentage2 = 22.51%

| image4 = Rudy Giuliani and Willie Herenton (47479766912) (closest crop.jpg

| candidate4 = Willie Herenton

| popular_vote4 = 18,990

| percentage4 = 21.49%

| image5 = 3x4.svg

| candidate5 = Van Turner

| popular_vote5 = 18,778

| percentage5 = 21.25%

| title = Mayor

| before_election = Jim Strickland

| before_party = Democratic Party (United States)

| after_election = Paul Young

| after_party = Democratic Party (United States)

| map_image = Memphis Mayor 2023.svg

| map_caption = Results by precinct
Young: {{legend0|#C0F0C0|20–30%}} {{legend0|#AAE5AA|30–40%}} {{legend0|#87DE87|40–50%}} {{legend0|#5FD35F|50–60%}}
Bonner: {{legend0|#FF8E65|20–30%}} {{legend0|#FF7644|30–40%}} {{legend0|#F8581E|40–50%}} {{legend0|#CD3700|50–60%}}
Herenton: {{legend0|#DFEEFF|20–30%}} {{legend0|#BDD3FF|30–40%}} {{legend0|#A5B0FF|40–50%}}
Turner: {{legend0|#FFDCEC|20–30%}} {{legend0|#FFC5DA|30–40%}}
Tie: {{legend0|#EFE7F5|20–30%}} {{legend0|#d2b1d9|40–50%}} {{legend0|#808080|No votes}}

| color1 = 73bc84

| color2 = dc8c53

| color4 = 8da9e2

| color5 = c88fe4

| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)

| party2 = Democratic Party (United States)

| party4 = Democratic Party (United States)

| party5 = Democratic Party (United States)

| turnout = 23.8% {{decrease}}{{Cite web |title=Turnout {{!}} Shelby County Election Commission, TN |url=https://www.electionsshelbytn.gov/turnout |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=www.electionsshelbytn.gov}} 2.9 pp

}}

The 2023 Memphis mayoral election took place on October 5, 2023, to elect the next mayor of Memphis, Tennessee. Incumbent Jim Strickland was term-limited and could not seek re-election to a third term in office.{{cite web |date=May 26, 2022 |title=Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland considering running for third term, if city council extends term limits |url=https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/politics/jim-strickland-third-term-term-limits/522-524a689a-c78c-4836-ad20-e980d4dafb2c |access-date=July 4, 2022 |website=localmemphis.com |language=en-US}}{{cite news |title=Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland will 'seriously consider' possibility of a third-term |url=https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/2022/05/24/memphis-mayor-jim-strickland-considers-third-term/9919129002/ |access-date=July 4, 2022 |work=The Commercial Appeal |last=Hardiman |first=Samuel |date=May 24, 2022 |url-status=live |url-access=limited |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526022356/https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/2022/05/24/memphis-mayor-jim-strickland-considers-third-term/9919129002/ |archive-date=May 26, 2022}}{{cite web | url=https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/politics/elections/live-results-for-shelby-county/522-86e6e8a8-0948-4038-9189-e6c972a29f02 | title=After hours-long delay, the results are in | Here's a look at who won Shelby County's hot races | date=August 5, 2022 }} The election used the plurality vote system, with no possibility of a runoff. The election was officially non-partisan, but several candidates were affiliated with political parties.{{Cite web |title=Memphis Municipal Election 10.5.2023 {{!}} Shelby County Election Commission, TN |url=https://www.electionsshelbytn.gov/elections/memphis-municipal-election-1052023 |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=www.electionsshelbytn.gov}}

Municipal government official Paul Young won 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, including Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner, former mayor Willie Herenton, and former Shelby County commission chair Van Turner.{{cite news |work=WREG |date=October 5, 2023 |access-date=October 5, 2023 |url=https://wreg.com/news/your-local-election-headquarters/memphis-mayoral-debate-2023/paul-young-claims-victory-in-memphis-mayoral-election/?ipid=promo-link-block1 |last=Anderson |first=Courtney |title=Paul Young claims victory in Memphis mayoral election}}

Background

=Ordinance 5823=

Memphis law states that mayors can only serve two terms. However, the Memphis City Council voted to put an ordinance on the ballot that, if passed, would extend the limit to three terms. Incumbent mayor Jim Strickland expressed interest in running for a third term if Memphis voters approved the ordinance. 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.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;margin-right:1em; font-size:95%"

| colspan="4" style="background:#f2f2f2; text-align:center;" | Memphis Ordinance 5823{{cite web |url=https://results.electionsshelbytn.gov/ |title=State and Federal Primary and County General |access-date=December 17, 2022 |archive-date=August 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820194018/https://results.electionsshelbytn.gov/ |url-status=bot: unknown }}

style="background:#09a8ff; text-align:center;"

! colspan="2" style="text-align:left; width:300px;"| Choice

! style="width:80px;"| Votes

! style="width:50px;"| %

style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);" |

| style="text-align:left;"| Against

|52,582

| 66.27%

style="background: rgb(1, 223, 116); width:1px" |

| style="text-align:left;"| For

|26,759

| 33.73%

style="font-weight:bold;"

| style="text-align:left;" colspan="2"| Total votes

|79,341

|100.00%

[[File:Memphis Ordinance 5823.svg|thumb|center|200x200px|Precinct results

{{collapsible list

| title = {{legend|#DEDEBD|Against}}|{{legend|#8B8B54|70–80%}}|{{legend|#BCBC83|60–70%}}|{{legend|#DEDEBD|50–60%}}

}}

{{legend|#808080|No data}}]]

= Early voting =

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.{{Cite web |title=Early voting total highest since 2007 Memphis elections |url=https://dailymemphian.com/article/38877/early-voting-total-highest-since-2007-memphis-election |access-date=2023-10-02 |website=Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News {{!}} Daily Memphian |language=en}}

Candidates

=Declared=

The following 17 candidates are on the ballot:{{cite web |url=https://www.electionsshelbytn.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Certified%20Candidates%20for%20October%205%2C%202023%20City%20of%20Memphis%20Municipal%20Election-Updated.pdf |work=Shelby County |title=City of Memphis Municipal Election, October 5, 2023 |access-date=1 August 2023}}{{efn|Key:
D – Democratic Party
I – Independent
R – Republican Party|name="Party Key"}}

Carnita Atwater, community organizer and Democratic candidate for Governor of Tennessee in 2022 (I){{Cite web |last=Henry |first=Wiley |date=2023-03-09 |title=Memphis Meeting to Discuss a Third Political Party Draws Scant Support for Now |url=http://tntribune.com/memphis-meeting-to-discuss-a-third-political-party-draws-scant-support-for-now/ |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=The Tennessee Tribune |language=en-US}}
Jennings Bernard, private probation company owner (I){{Cite web |title=Here's who else is running to be Memphis' next mayor |url=https://dailymemphian.com/article/37656/memphis-mayor-2023-election-joe-brown-carnita-atwater |access-date=2023-09-05 |website=Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News {{!}} Daily Memphian |language=en}}
Floyd Bonner, Shelby County Sheriff (D){{cite news | url=https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/politics/2022/10/25/shelby-county-sheriff-floyd-bonner-to-run-for-memphis-mayor/69588109007/ | title=Floyd Bonner will run for Memphis mayor | date=October 25, 2022 | last=Hardiman | first=Samuel | work=The Commercial Appeal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205184258/https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/politics/2022/10/25/shelby-county-sheriff-floyd-bonner-to-run-for-memphis-mayor/69588109007/ |archive-date=December 5, 2022 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}
Joe Brown, former host of Judge Joe Brown and former Shelby County Criminal Court judge (I){{cite web | url=https://www.memphisflyer.com/more-to-come | title=More to Come }}
Kendra Calico, hunger relief charity president (I)
Karen Camper, Minority Leader of the Tennessee House of Representatives (D){{cite web| url=https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/politics/tennessee-house-minority-leader-represntative-karen-camper-memphis-mayoral-race/522-800464ba-77b4-4994-bb20-1a8373be225d | title=TN House Minority Leader Karen Camper announces run for Memphis mayor}}
J.W. Gibson, former Shelby County commissioner{{cite news |url=https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/2022/12/15/businessman-j-w-gibson-planning-run-for-memphis-mayor/69732246007/|title=Businessman J.W. Gibson II planning run for Memphis mayor |last=Hardiman|first=Samuel|work=The Commercial Appeal|date=December 15, 2022 |url-status=live|url-access=limited|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314122220/https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/2022/12/15/businessman-j-w-gibson-planning-run-for-memphis-mayor/69732246007/|archive-date=March 14, 2023}}
Reggie Hall, life coach
James Harvey, former Democratic chair of the Shelby County Commission (R){{cite news |access-date=1 August 2023 |work=Memphis Flyer |first=Jackson |url=https://www.memphisflyer.com/going-the-distance-2 |title=Going the Distance |last=Baker |date=8 March 2023}}
Willie Herenton, former mayor (D){{cite news |url=https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/2023/02/06/former-memphis-mayor-willie-herenton-announces-new-bid-for-mayor/69878726007/ |title=Former Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton announces bid to return to office |last=Finton |first=Lucas |date=February 6, 2023 |work=The Commercial Appeal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314123823/https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/2023/02/06/former-memphis-mayor-willie-herenton-announces-new-bid-for-mayor/69878726007/ |archive-date=March 14, 2023 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}
Michelle McKissack, chair of the Shelby County Board of Education (D){{cite news |url=https://tn.chalkbeat.org/2023/1/26/23573379/memphis-shelby-county-schools-michelle-mckissack-mayor-jim-strickland-2023-election |title=MSCS board member Michelle McKissack makes it official: She’s running for Memphis mayor}}{{cite web |url=https://secure.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/141715 |title=Michelle McKissack for Memphis Mayor — ActBlue}}
Brandy (Brandon) Price, activist (D)
Justina Ragland
Tekeva Shaw, life coach
Van Turner, former chair of the Shelby County Commission (D){{cite web | url=https://www.actionnews5.com/2022/08/12/shelby-county-commissioner-van-turner-confirms-he-is-running-mayor/ | title=Shelby County Commissioner Van Turner confirms he is running for mayor }}
Derek Winn, bakery assistant (I)
Paul Young, president and CEO of the Downtown Memphis Commission and former director of the Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development{{cite news | url=https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/2022/09/01/paul-young-memphis-mayor-race-2022-mayoral-election/7932467001/ |title=Paul Young, a longtime public servant, will run for Memphis mayor in 2023 |last=Hardiman |first=Samuel |date=September 1, 2022 |work=The Commercial Appeal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926000304/https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/2022/09/01/paul-young-memphis-mayor-race-2022-mayoral-election/7932467001/ |archive-date=September 26, 2022 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}} (D){{cite web |url=https://secure.actblue.com/donate/paul-young-for-memphis-1 |title=Paul Young for Memphis Mayor — ActBlue}}

= Withdrawn =

Frank Colvett, city councilor (R); withdrew July 27, 2023{{Cite web |title=Frank Colvett drops out of mayor's race, says field is too crowded |url=https://dailymemphian.com/article/37572/frank-colvett-memphis-mayor-drops-out-of-race-2023-october |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News {{!}} Daily Memphian |language=en}}

Endorsements

{{Endorsements box

| title = Floyd Bonner

| list =

Organizations

Memphis Police Association{{Cite web |title=The Commercial Appeal |url=https://www.commercialappeal.com/restricted/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commercialappeal.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2Flocal%2F2023%2F07%2F25%2Fmemphis-police-firefighter-unions-endorse-sheriff-floyd-bonenr-for-mayor%2F70463705007%2F |access-date=2023-09-26 |website=www.commercialappeal.com}}
Memphis Fire Fighters Association

}}

{{Endorsements box

| title = Van Turner

| list =

Federal politicians

Steve Cohen, U.S. Representative for {{ushr|TN|9}}{{Cite web |title=Van Turner nets endorsements in Memphis mayoral race from top officials, city employee union |url=https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/politics/elections/2023/09/15/van-turner-nets-endorsements-from-steve-cohen-justin-pearson-lee-harris-city-of-memphis-union/70863031007/ |access-date=2023-09-26 |website=The Commercial Appeal |language=en-US}}

State legislators

Justin Pearson, state representative

County officials

Lee Harris, mayor of Shelby County

Labor unions

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1733

Organizations

Planned Parenthood Tennessee (co-endorsement with Paul Young)
Stand for Children

}}

{{Endorsements box

| title = Paul Young

| list =

Individuals

Craig Brewer, film director
NLE Choppa, rapper
Elliot Perry, former professional basketball player

Organizations

Planned Parenthood Tennessee (co-endorsement with Van Turner)
Shelby County Young Democrats{{Cite web |title=Paul Young endorsements range from Young Democrats, Planned Parenthood to NLE Choppa |url=https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/politics/elections/2023/09/15/memphis-mayoral-race-2023-paul-young-endorsements-nle-choppa-shelby-county-democrats/70863403007/ |access-date=2023-09-26 |website=The Commercial Appeal |language=en-US}}

}}

Polling

class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;text-align:center;"

valign=bottom

! Poll source

! Date(s)
administered

! Sample
size{{efn|Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear|name="Key"}}

! Margin
{{nowrap|of error}}

! style="width:70px;"| Floyd
Bonner

! style="width:70px;"| Joe
Brown

! style="width:70px;"| Karen
Camper

! style="width:70px;"| Frank
Colvett

! style="width:70px;"| J.W.
Gibson

! style="width:70px;"| Willie
Herenton

! style="width:70px;"| Michelle
McKissack

! style="width:70px;"| Van
Turner

! style="width:70px;"| Paul
Young

! Undecided

style="text-align:left;"|Hart Research[https://dailymemphian.com/section/metroelections/article/38536/hart-research-poll-shows-tight-memphis-mayor-field Hart Research]

|Sept. 5-7 2023

| -

|± 5%

|19%

|4%

|1%

| -

|5%

|13%

|3%

|9%

|{{Party shading/Nonpartisan}}|20%

|{{Party shading/Nonpartisan}}|23%

style="text-align:left;"|Emerson College[https://wreg.com/news/your-local-election-headquarters/poll-herenton-tops-crowded-field-in-memphis-mayors-race Emerson College]

|August 11–13, 2023

|600 (LV)

|± 3.9%

|10%

|≤1%

| -

|5%

|{{Party shading/Nonpartisan}}|16%

|3%

|7%

|14%

|{{Party shading/Nonpartisan}}|26%

style="text-align:left;"|HIT Strategies[https://dailymemphian.com/section/metroelections/article/36513/stand-for-children-hiit-strategies-poll-memphis-mayor-race-willie-herenton-lead HIT Strategies]

|May 2023

|400 (LV)

|± 4.9%

|9%

|4%

|1%

|4%

|1%

|{{Party shading/Nonpartisan}}|13%

|2%

|9%

|8%

|{{Party shading/Undecided}}|48%

style="text-align:left;"|Caissa Public Strategy[https://dailymemphian.com/article/36212/memphis-mayor-race-poll-paul-young-floyd-turner-van-turner-willie-herenton Caissa Public Strategy]

|May 2023

|600 (LV)

|± 4.0%

|15%

|9%

|3%

|15%

|6%

|{{Party shading/Nonpartisan}}|17%

|8%

|{{Party shading/Undecided}}|21%

style="text-align:left;"|Caissa Public Strategy[https://dailymemphian.com/article/34867/memphis-mayor-race-early-polling-data-willie-herenton-van-turner-floyd-bonner Caissa Public Strategy]

|February 2023

|1,000 (LV)

|± 4.7%

|15%

|3%

|4%

|3%

|2%

|14%

|4%

|{{Party shading/Nonpartisan}}|16%

|12%

|13%

Campaign finance

class="wikitable" \|+2022-2023 Campaign Finance Reporting{{Cite web \|title=Financial Disclosures {{!}} Shelby County Election Commission, TN \|url=https://www.electionsshelbytn.gov/financial-disclosures \|access-date=2023-07-27 \|website=www.electionsshelbytn.gov}}{{Cite web \|title=Four mayoral candidates spent $1.76M combined over summer \|url=https://dailymemphian.com/article/38847/memphis-mayor-candidate-spending-2023 \|access-date=2023-10-02 \|website=Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News {{!}} Daily Memphian \|language=en}}
Candidate !Total Receipts !Total Disbursements !Cash on Hand{{efn\|As of September 25, 2023}} !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

class="wikitable"

|+2022-2023 Campaign Finance Reporting{{Cite web |title=Financial Disclosures {{!}} Shelby County Election Commission, TN |url=https://www.electionsshelbytn.gov/financial-disclosures |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=www.electionsshelbytn.gov}}{{Cite web |title=Four mayoral candidates spent $1.76M combined over summer |url=https://dailymemphian.com/article/38847/memphis-mayor-candidate-spending-2023 |access-date=2023-10-02 |website=Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News {{!}} Daily Memphian |language=en}}

Candidate

!Total Receipts

!Total Disbursements

!Cash on Hand{{efn|As of September 25, 2023}}

!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

{{Election box begin no party no change|title=2023 Memphis mayoral election results{{Cite web |last=Gowins |first=Max |date=2023-10-05 |title=Election Results: Memphis Municipal Elections |url=https://decisiondeskhq.com/election-results-memphis-municipal-elections/ |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=Decision Desk HQ |language=en-US}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate no party no change|candidate=Paul Young|votes=24,408|percentage=27.6%}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=Floyd Bonner|votes=19,895|percentage=22.5%}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=Willie Herenton|votes=18,990|percentage=21.5%}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=Van Turner|votes=18,778|percentage=21.3%}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=J.W. Gibson|votes=2,175|percentage=2.5%}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=Michelle McKissack|votes=1,437|percentage=1.6%}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=Joe Brown|votes=1,028|percentage=1.2%}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=Karen Camper|votes=591|percentage=0.7%}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=James Harvey|votes=325|percentage=0.4%}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=Brandon Price|votes=129|percentage=0.1%}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=Carnita Atwater|votes=122|percentage=0.1%}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=Tekeva Shaw|votes=95|percentage=0.1%}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=Jennings Bernard|votes=89|percentage=0.1%}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=Reggie Hall|votes=77|percentage=0.1%}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=Kendra Calico|votes=57|percentage=0.1%}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=Derek Winn|votes=57|percentage=0.1%}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=Justina Ragland|votes=53|percentage=0.1%}}

{{Election box write-in no party no change|candidate=Write-in|votes=77|percentage=0.1%}}

{{Election box total no party no change|votes=88,383

|percentage=100%}}

Notes

References

External links

Official campaign websites

[https://electfloydbonner.com/ Floyd Bonner (D) for Mayor]
{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20221130001203/https://jjb2023.com/ Joe Brown (I) for Mayor]}}
[https://www.ready4camper.com/ Karen Camper (D) for Mayor]
[https://www.frankcolvettjr.com/ Frank Colvett (R) for Mayor]
[https://www.jwgibsonformayor.com/ J.W. Gibson for Mayor]
[https://herentonformayor.com/ Willie Herenton (D) for Mayor]
{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20220920191445/https://michelleformemphis.com/ Michelle McKissack (D) for Mayor]}}
[https://vanturnerformayor.com/ Van Turner (D) for Mayor]
[https://www.youngformemphis.com/ Paul Young (D) for Mayor]

Category:2023 Tennessee elections

Memphis

Category:Government of Memphis, Tennessee

Category:Mayoral elections in Memphis, Tennessee