Last day to register to vote on Nov. 3 ballot is Monday
The general elections for three newly drawn congressional districts that divide Shelby County are expected to be a potent draw on the Nov. 3 ballot along with a tightening race for governor.
Bill Dries
Reporter
Bill Dries covers city and county government and politics. He is a native Memphian and has been a reporter for almost 50 years covering a wide variety of stories from the 1977 death of Elvis Presley and the 1978 police and fire strikes to numerous political campaigns, every county mayor and every Memphis Mayor starting with Wyeth Chandler.
There are 4446 articles by Bill Dries :
-
October 2026
-
Elections -
Premium
ElectionsBailey’s summit call in the shadow of SpaceXAI
Also in the political roundup, Blackburn talks about affordability, Hagerty’s letter as Jack Smith testifies in the insurrection case, and the difficult mechanics of write-in voting.
-
Behind The Headlines Justin J. Pearson says no U.S. military aid to Israel or Ukraine
Democratic congressional nominee Justin J. Pearson talked about ongoing U.S. aid to Ukraine and “America First” on “Behind The Headlines.”
-
Metro Blackburn calls for return to electric chair after botched execution of Christa Pike
U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn’s reaction to the two failed attempts to carry out the death penalty in the case of Christa Pike is one of several, including a very different one from her rival, Democratic nominee Jerri Green.
Related content:
Christa Pike is alive a day after Tennessee’s failed attempt to execute her, her lawyers say
-
Elections Independent David Hatley brings campaign for governor to Memphis
Also in the political roundup, Charlie Hatcher on KWAM, Chaz Molder’s fish fry in North Memphis and the art of canvassing and phone banking.
-
Premium
MetroHow Memphis Safe Task Force became a battleground for Tennessee Republicans and local Democrats
The political backdrop of the Task Force includes a Republican tactic to take over local government and a conflict among local Democrats about how to respond to the operation.
-
-
September 2026
-
Metro Blackburn sues, Hagerty seeks disbarment of Special Counsel Jack Smith
The lawsuit and disbarment complaint from Tennessee’s two U.S. senators comes the day after Special Counsel Jack Smith testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington.
-
Shelby County County commissioner wants to breathe new life into air-quality standards
A vote on resetting air-permit fees opened a move to address air quality concerns about data centers.
-
Shelby County Short agenda Monday as new Shelby County Commission settles in
Commissioners will vote on committee chairs, including a first-term budget chair, after putting off an ethics commission revival and a data center moratorium in committee.
-
Premium
North MemphisThe women behind the return of Leon Place: ‘We break ground on a belief in Memphis’
Two women are teaming up on an affordable-housing development in North Memphis, another move in the momentum to bring more new homes to the city.
-
Behind The Headlines New county mayor focused on money
Almost a month into his four-year term, Shelby County Mayor Mickell Lowery said his top priority is the county’s financial stability.
-
Behind The Headlines Task Force’s 1-year mark comes with questions
A year since the presidential executive order that created the Memphis Safe Task Force was announced in the Oval Office, its impact and future are still being debated, touted and condemned.
-
Elections Independent contenders make waves in race for governor
Lauren Pinkston and David Hatley are drawing the attention of the Democratic and Republican nominees for Tennessee Governor. Pinkston and Hatley are better funded than independent candidates usually are in the statewide race.
-
Shelby County More ‘focused time’ in County Clerk’s Office to clear car-title backlog
County Clerk La Sonya Hall says her office has cleared about half of the 34 crates of unprocessed car titles and vehicle registrations from car dealers so far.
-
Premium
City of MemphisMayor Paul Young defends approach to SpaceXAI in preview of reelection campaign
Also in the political roundup, a new poll shows the race for Tennessee governor tightening, and one of two standout independent candidates campaigns in Memphis.
-
State Government State House hopeful bounced as write-in candidate
Kyler Gilkey was declared ineligible at Monday’s deadline for write-in candidates in the Nov. 3 election. It’s the latest wrinkle in a complex political puzzle. Meanwhile, five other contenders did qualify.
-
Elections State House hopeful’s write-in bid killed by ‘sore loser’ election laws
Kyler Gilkey’s second bid for public office this year was shut down by the Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office because it was his second attempt at a state House of Representatives seat, albeit a different one.
-
City of Memphis City Council ponders pickleball displacement
Memphis Parks Director Justice Bolden provided more details on the roller derby’s future as council members pressed him about the league's displacement.
-
Premium
City of MemphisMemphis tensions spill into viral Reaves-Young showdown
As residents weigh in online, debates over SpaceXAI, the Safe Task Force and city leadership collide in one highly public exchange.
-
City of Memphis City Council members plan to ask Task Force to leave
On the one-year anniversary of the executive order that created and sent the Memphis Safe Task Force to the city, relatives and friends of those rounded up in the El Corralon nightclub raid told the council that raid and others have split families.
-
Shelby County Lowery picks first 5 positions in new administration
Two weeks into his term as County Mayor, Mickell Lowery has made his first five appointments to his administration. The selections represent what Lowery calls a “culture shift” in county government.
-
Shelby County Jail contract, clerk funds, judge appointment approved at first commission meeting
The County Commission authorized up to $6.1 million in funding to stabilize the Shelby County Clerk’s Office and approved a $37.9 million contract for healthcare at county jails.
-
City of Memphis Pipkin could go pickleball
The company that developed pickleball courts in a Bartlett movie theater two years ago wants to do the same at the Pipkin Building in Liberty Park.
-
State Government Interim state rep calls off write-in campaign for late father’s seat
Interim state Rep. T.J. Hardaway is backing a write-in effort by Kyler Gilkey, who had been seeking the District 84 seat vacated by veteran legislator Joe Towns Jr.
-
City of Memphis City Council returns to data center discussion with multiple proposals to regulate them
A trio of proposed ground rules for future data centers in Memphis is on a busy City Council agenda.
-