Memphis School Board Elections: Are These 5 Candidates Hiding Shocking Secrets? You Won't Believe #4!

The field for the 2026 school board election in Memphis is beginning to take shape as campaign season officially kicked off on Monday. Candidates can now start collecting qualifying signatures leading up to the February 19 deadline for the May 5 primary.

Five incumbent members of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) board—Michelle McKissack, Natalie McKinney, Tamarques Porter, Sable Otey, and Towanna Murphy—have confirmed their intention to run for reelection. Notably, four of these incumbents are involved in a lawsuit against the Shelby County Election Commission, challenging the decision to shorten their terms by placing all nine board seats on the ballot this spring.

As the election landscape evolves, a handful of challengers have also announced their campaigns, while another individual has expressed a strong inclination to run, as indicated through campaign filings. Meanwhile, Amber Huett-Garcia, who represents District 8, will not seek reelection as she pivots to a run for the county commission.

The board awaits the outcome of a lawsuit filed last week, which includes a preliminary injunction request aimed at halting the Shelby County Election Commission from proceeding with races for Districts 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7. “If I have to run again, I will,” stated board member Towanna Murphy, representing District 7, affirming her commitment amidst the ongoing legal uncertainties.

In a significant move, the Shelby County Commission decided to place all nine board seats up for election this spring, overriding a mayoral veto in October. This election marks a pivotal moment as candidates will also participate in a partisan primary for the first time, a decision that has faced criticism from several incumbents and community members. “School board races should be nonpartisan, because classrooms aren’t red or blue,” remarked District 5 board member Sable Otey. She emphasized that decisions affecting literacy, safety, and student success should be driven by data rather than party politics.

Despite these concerns, nearly all confirmed candidates, including Otey, plan to run on the Democratic ticket. Given that Memphis is one of the largest Democratic strongholds in Tennessee, the May primary is anticipated to be more competitive than the general election on August 6. On the Republican side, Luke Cymbal, vice chairman of the Shelby County Republican Party, affirmed that the party will support conservative candidates in the MSCS race, despite the challenges they may face. “We are going to give the city of Memphis a choice, and we are going to encourage them to look at how voting historically has worked out for the Memphis-Shelby County School District, which we say is a failure,” Cymbal stated, advocating for a new direction in school governance.

Cymbal also mentioned that Republican candidates may back efforts for a state takeover of MSCS, a move that could resonate with some Democratic voters who favor increased state intervention. The local Republican Party has reported increased momentum, buoyed by their support for the comprehensive election.

Among the candidates, Jon Carroll, a longtime advocate within the state and local Democratic committees and PTAs, is running for the District 9 seat. He expressed his belief that a state takeover is likely, regardless of who wins the 2026 seats, but the extent of disruption will depend on the election outcome. Carroll aims to enhance the board’s budgeting and resource allocation processes while working to boost funding for career and technical education programs. “The community doesn’t trust the school board right now,” he admitted. “They want professionalism; they want change.”

As candidates gear up for the upcoming election, the following incumbents and announcements have emerged so far:

• District 1: Incumbent Michelle McKissack will run as a Democrat.
• District 2: Incumbent Chair Natalie McKinney confirmed her candidacy as a Democrat.
• District 3: Incumbent Stephanie Love has not confirmed her reelection plans.
• District 4: Incumbent Tamarques Porter will run as a Democrat.
• District 5: Incumbent Sable Otey confirmed her intent to run as a Democrat.
• District 6: Incumbent Keith Williams has not confirmed his reelection plans.
• District 7: Incumbent Towanna Murphy confirmed her candidacy as a Democrat; Sonia Partick-Warr has filed campaign documents but has not disclosed a party affiliation.
• District 8: Incumbent Amber Huett-Garcia will not seek reelection.
• District 9: Jon Carroll confirmed his candidacy as a Democrat.

This developing story will continue to evolve as more candidates announce their campaigns and as legal proceedings unfold regarding the election process.

Bri Hatch covers Memphis-Shelby County Schools for Chalkbeat Tennessee. Reach Bri at [email protected].