A former member of the Germantown Fire Department is interested in running for mayor of the suburb.

The Daily Memphian analyzes the first six days of early voting data within the three new congressional districts that split Shelby County and the race for Tennessee governor.

So far, three new challengers have pulled petitions to run against incumbents on the Bartlett Board of Mayor and Aldermen. 

“If you want something to be better, you have to get out there and do your part,” said one voter.

Most of the early and absentee votes in the first two days of the ongoing early voting period were cast in Democratic state and federal primaries.

U.S. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, Ayanna Pressley, D-Massachusetts, and Summer Lee, D-Pennsylvania, headlined the “Get Out the Vote Rally.”

Brad Less, the Republican nominee for Shelby County sheriff, talked on “Behind The Headlines” about immediate solutions to problems at the Shelby County Jail and life after the Memphis Safe Task Force.

Shelby County is back at the polls and the ballot is lengthy. 

Here’s a rundown to help you with the what, when and where of voting in the 2026 August elections. 

The most complex ballot of the three 2026 Shelby County elections begins early voting Friday. President Donald Trump and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have both endorsed candidates in the 9th Congressional District race.

Early voting starts Friday, July 17, for the Aug. 6 Shelby County general election. But the ballot also includes the state and federal primaries for the Nov. 3 election. 

Local Democrats closed out their candidate forums for the city’s three newly drawn congressional districts in, while a Millington event drew a Republican nominee for county mayor and videos from two contenders for governor.

Two Collierville residents are seeking the Republican nomination for an open position on the suburb’s school board as incumbent Wanda Chism declines to run for reelection. 

About 700 absentee voters in Shelby County will receive a supplemental ballot that is expected to arrive by July 15.

Democratic nominee for County Mayor Mickell Lowery talked about state intervention, his vote to raise county property taxes and tax breaks as economic development incentives on “Behind The Headlines.”

The November ballot is taking shape as suburban candidates decide where their name will appear on the ballot and file appropriate paperwork.

Two fatal Memphis Safe Task Force shootings in four days have returned the federal presence to the campaign spotlight as an issue.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is coming to the city with two other Democratic U.S. House members. Meanwhile, House Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Jordan is endorsing state Sen. Brent Taylor in the companion Republican primary.

The forum at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church drew all five candidates for the August 6 Democratic primary, who each hope to win the seat of incumbent Republican Congressman Andy Ogles.

Who has pulled petitions for the Nov. 3 ballot for suburban general elections so far?

Election officials talk on “Behind The Headlines” about the disruption of new congressional districts and how that could lead to an increase in voter turnout.

Monday, June 22, was the first day that candidates in Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Lakeland and Millington could pull petitions for the general election Nov. 3.

Many candidates in Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Lakeland and Millington picked up petitions on Monday, the first available day for the November general election.

Three candidates are planning write-in campaigns for the District 93 House seat most recently held by G.A. Hardaway. 

Lowery in Eads, Taylor in Piperton. The political roundup is on the campaign trail and includes a D.C. roundup with reaction to the memorandum of understanding with Iran.