Shelby County Mayor
August 6, 2026 · Shelby County, Tennessee · County · general
How do we calculate vote impact?
Vote impact = representation (how much weight one vote carries here, the smaller the district's population, the higher the representation) + decisiveness (how likely this race is to be close, based on past results and number of candidates).
Representation: Low · 0 out of 100
This district is large for its type, so each vote is a smaller slice of the outcome. About 919,173 people live here.
score = 100 × ln(largest population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(largest ÷ smallest), rounded to 2 decimals = 100 × ln(919,173 ÷ 919,173) ÷ ln(919,173 ÷ 5,079) = 0, comparing counties in TN (grades: 66+ high, 33+ average, otherwise low)
Decisiveness: Unknown
No past results for this contest yet.
Low representation + unknown decisiveness → Below average vote impact.
Some data is missing, so this rating is based on partial information and capped at "High".
County Executive is responsible for:
- Running county government day to day, like a mayor for the county
- Proposing the county budget
- Overseeing county departments and hiring their leaders
- Hearing certain court cases in some Texas counties, where this office is called County Judge or County Judge/Executive
Affected Areas: Environment and Public Health, Government Efficiency, Healthcare Affordability, Government Spending Reduction, Public Safety and Crime Control, Housing Affordability, Social Programs and Welfare, Public Infrastructure
Candidates
John J. Deberry Jr.
Republican · declared
John J. DeBerry Jr. represented Memphis-based District 90 in the Tennessee House of Representatives for twenty-six years and later served as a senior advisor to Governor Bill Lee. His public-service work included education, children and family policy, criminal-justice reform, and community affairs. DeBerry earned degrees from Freed-Hardeman University and the University of Memphis and has served congregations in Memphis as a minister.
Records: Government Efficiency 4 for, Healthcare Affordability 1 for, Public Safety and Crime Control 7 for, Social Programs and Welfare 6 for
Mickell M. Lowery
Democratic · declared
Mickell M. Lowery represents District 8 on the Shelby County Board of Commissioners. First elected in 2018 and reelected in 2022, he has served in commission leadership and on economic-development, audit, and budget committees. Lowery earned a bachelor's degree in business from LeMoyne-Owen College and a master's degree in operations management from the University of Arkansas, and he has more than two decades of professional experience at FedEx.
Records: Government Efficiency 1 for, Public Infrastructure 1 for, Public Safety and Crime Control 1 for, Social Programs and Welfare 3 for
Election sources
Source: electionsshelbytn.gov
Source: electionsshelbytn.gov
Source: electionsshelbytn.gov
Source: electionsshelbytn.gov