Primary Election – Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Early Voting runs through April 30! Find the polling hours and locations here: bit.ly/901EarlyVote2026
Memphis and Shelby County have a lot on the line this year. Along with the threats coming from federal and state actions, this year’s elections will shape our daily lives and the future of our community for years to come.
This isn’t just about one office or one issue. It’s about the systems that affect people every day: how our schools are governed, how public dollars are spent, and how our justice system operates. The leaders elected this year will set the direction of our community and decide how we meet those outside threats.
In addition to our county and school board endorsements, we are making an endorsement in the Sheriff’s race for the first time. It was a difficult choice, but understanding the stakes, we couldn’t afford not to.
People are dying inside 201 Poplar. The conditions there are dangerous and have been for years. Federal immigration enforcement is putting new pressure on local law enforcement in ways that will determine whether immigrant families here feel safe to go to a doctor, send their kids to school, or even call for help. This office decides what life looks like inside the jail and how deputies show up in our communities. We’ve been advocating strongly on these issues, so we felt we had a responsibility to weigh in on this race.
We want to thank the endorsement committee that came together this year to confront hard choices and make recommendations. Each decision was its own conversation, and none of them were simple. We looked for candidates who understand the stakes, who have been honest about the challenges, and who want to be held accountable to what they’ve committed to.
That last part matters most to us, because these endorsements are not the end – they’re just the beginning. We’ll be showing up after the election the same way we showed up before it: focused on actions and accountability that move our community forward. We expect the same from the candidates we’re backing.
County-Wide Endorsements
County Commission Endorsements
These races will determine how public dollars are spent, which services our communities rely on, and how our justice system operates. We believe the following candidates are ready to work together – and with the people they represent – to deliver real change and move Shelby County forward.
Note: For this round, we focused on races that had competition in the primary election. We’ll release another round of endorsements for the General Election after May 5.
School board Endorsements
These races will shape the direction of our schools and the future of education in Shelby County. We believe the following candidates are best positioned to stand up for our students, back our educators, and defend local control of our schools.
Note: For this round, we focused on races that had competition in the primary election. We’ll release another round of endorsements for the General Election after May 5.
Helpful Voter Links
- Early Voting is April 15 – 30 Find a location near you!
- Election Day is Tuesday, May 5: Find your polling location
- Register to vote
ABOUT STAND’S ENDORSEMENT PROCESS
All elections impact public health, public safety, education, and our community’s wellbeing. When elections take place – whether for City Council, County Commission, School Board, or the Justice System – we have to determine whether or not to get involved. Our member-driven endorsement process helps us understand if a candidate is a leader who will work towards true public safety where everyone has what they need to survive and thrive, and who will stand up for what is best for youth in our community.
Not just anyone can be endorsed by Stand for Children. We run a rigorous endorsement process. By using surveys, forums, and candidate interviews, our members and supporters have the opportunity to ask tough questions of candidates to understand where they stand on key issues. From there, we decide who has what it takes to be a champion for education equity and racial justice.
Once we endorse a candidate, we want that candidate to win. To help them do so, we engage our members and supporters to assist us with:
- Virtual Organizing
- Phone/Text Banking
- Direct Mail
- And more!
Electing candidates who are committed to accountability and transparency is a key part of building a future where we can all thrive. All together, we can create change.
