2015 Memphis mayoral election explained

Election Name:	2015 Memphis mayoral election
Flag Image:	Flag of Memphis, Tennessee.svg
Country:	Memphis, Tennessee
Type:	Mayoral
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2011 Memphis mayoral election
Previous Year:	2011
Next Election:	2019 Memphis mayoral election
Next Year:	2019
Election Date:	October 8, 2015
Image1:	File:Mayor of Memphis Jim Strickland (cropped).jpg
Candidate1:	Jim Strickland
Popular Vote1:	42,020
Percentage1:	41.41%
Candidate2:	A C Wharton
Popular Vote2:	22,490
Percentage2:	21.97%
Candidate4:	Harold B. Collins
Popular Vote4:	18,767
Percentage4:	18.49%
Candidate5:	Mike Williams
Popular Vote5:	16,388
Percentage5:	16.15%
Mayor
Before Election:	A C Wharton
Before Party:	Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:	Jim Strickland
After Party:	Democratic Party (United States)
Color1:	8da9e2
Color2:	73bc84
Color4:	c88fe4
Color5:	dc8c53
Party1:	Democratic Party (United States)
Party2:	Democratic Party (United States)
Party4:	Democratic Party (United States)
Party5:	Democratic Party (United States)
Turnout:	28.0% ^[1] 10.0 pp

The 2015 Memphis mayoral election took place on October 8, 2015, to elect the next mayor of Memphis, Tennessee. Incumbent Democratic Mayor A C Wharton ran for re-election to a second full term in office.^{[2] [3]} He was defeated by Memphis City Councilman Jim Strickland, a fellow Democrat, who earned a plurality of the vote and became the first White mayor of Memphis in more than two decades.

The election was officially non-partisan, but each candidate was affiliated with a political party. The mayoral election coincided with elections for the thirteen seats on the Memphis City Council. Due to the 1991 ruling of U.S. District Judge Jerome Turner, there is no runoff allowed in citywide elections.

Candidates

Democratic Party

Declared

• Harold Collins, Memphis City Councillor^[4]
• Jim Strickland, Chairman of the Memphis City Council^[5]
• A C Wharton, incumbent Mayor^{[6] [7]}
• Mike Williams, President of the Memphis Police Association^{[8] [9]}

Potential/Withdrew

• Steve Basar, Shelby County Commissioner^{[10] [11]}
• Carol Chumney, former State Representative, former Memphis City Councillor and candidate for Mayor in 2007 and 2009^{[7] [12]}
• Justin Ford, Shelby County Commissioner and member of the Ford family^{[13] [14]}
• Detric Golden, former University of Memphis basketball player^{[15] [16]}
• James Harvey, former Shelby County Commissioner and candidate for Mayor in 2011^[17]
• Kenneth Whalum, minister, former School Board member, candidate for Mayor in 2011 and candidate for Mayor of Shelby County in 2014^{[17] [10]}

Declined

• Edmund Ford Sr., Memphis City Councillor and candidate for Mayor in 2011^[18]
• Myron Lowery, Memphis City Councillor, former Mayor pro tempore and candidate for Mayor in 2009^[10]
• Jason Smith, State Senator and President of Smith Property Group

Results

A C Wharton was first elected Mayor of Memphis in a 2009 special election following the resignation of Mayor Willie Herenton; he was elected to a full term in 2011. As mayor, Wharton oversaw the city's response to the 2009 recession and subsequent budget cuts.

Wharton defended his record as mayor, but faced criticism from his challengers on Memphis' high crime rates, slow economic growth, and Wharton's benefits cuts to city workers. Strickland painted himself as a "law and order" candidate and promised to crack down on violent crime in the city, while Harold Collins called for a data-based approach to crime and for increased job training for Memphis residents.^{[19] [20]}

On Election Day, Strickland defeated Wharton by nearly twenty percentage points, winning a plurality of the vote.^[21]

Memphis mayoral election, 2015!Candidate!Votes!%

Jim Strickland	42,020	41.41%
A C Wharton (incumbent)	22,290	21.97%
Harold B. Collins	18,767	18.49%
Mike Williams	16,388	16.15%
Sharon A. Webb	610	0.60%
M. Latroy Williams	413	0.41%
Anderson Fullilove Jr.	369	0.36%
Robert Hodges	240	0.24%
David Phillip Walker Jr.	171	0.17%
Leo Awgowhat	119	0.12%
Write-ins	92	0.09%
Total	101,479	100.00%

See also

• 2015 Knoxville mayoral election
• 2015 Nashville mayoral election

External links

Official campaign websites

• Harold Collins for Mayor
• James Harvey for Mayor
• Mike Williams for Mayor

Notes and References

1. Web site: Turnout Shelby County Election Commission, TN . 2024-01-17 . www.electionsshelbytn.gov.
2. News: August 29, 2012 . Wharton to Run for Re-election . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141219174321/http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/story/19401775/wharton-to-run-for-reelection . December 19, 2014 . December 19, 2014 . MyFoxMemphis.
3. News: Greg Coy . November 18, 2014 . Wharton Raising Funds For Re-Election Bid . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141219180444/http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/story/27411232/wharton-raising-funds-for-re-election-bid . December 19, 2014 . December 19, 2014 . MyFoxMemphis.
4. News: Harold Collins Confirms His Run For Mayor. MyFoxAustin. December 19, 2014.
5. News: The Wait is Over: Strickland Announces Candidacy for Mayor. Memphis Flyer. Jackson Baker. January 15, 2015. January 16, 2015.
6. News: August 29, 2012 . Wharton to Run for Re-election . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141219174321/http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/story/19401775/wharton-to-run-for-reelection . December 19, 2014 . December 19, 2014 . MyFoxMemphis.
7. News: Greg Coy . November 18, 2014 . Wharton Raising Funds For Re-Election Bid . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141219180444/http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/story/27411232/wharton-raising-funds-for-re-election-bid . December 19, 2014 . December 19, 2014 . MyFoxMemphis.
8. News: MPA President Considering Run For Memphis Mayor. MyFoxAustin. December 19, 2014. December 19, 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141219171820/http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/story/27667168/mpa-president-considering-run-for-memphis-mayor. December 19, 2014.
9. News: Police union president announces bid for mayor. WREG. February 23, 2015. February 24, 2015.
10. News: Election Year 2015 is Upon Us. Jackson Baker. October 30, 2014. December 19, 2014. Memphis Flyer.
11. News: Harold Collins On Verge of Declaring for 2015 Memphis Mayor's Race. Memphis Flyer. Jackson Baker. October 9, 2014. December 19, 2014.
12. News: Wharton Begins Re-Election Fundraising. The Daily News. Bill Dries. November 18, 2014. December 19, 2014.
13. News: Justin Ford considering run for mayor of Memphis. Kyle Veazey. December 18, 2014. December 19, 2014. The Commercial Appeal.
14. News: Commission Chairman Justin Ford Says He'll Run for Mayor. Jackson Baker. February 9, 2015. February 16, 2015. Memphis Flyer.
15. News: Size of Mayoral Field Shadows Race. Bill Dries. February 3, 2015. February 16, 2015. The Daily News.
16. News: Get to Know a Candidate: Detric Golden for Mayor. Alexandra Pusateri. June 19, 2015. June 26, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150629055112/http://thenewsouthern.com/2015/06/19/get-to-know-a-candidate-detric-golden-for-mayor/. June 29, 2015. dead. The New Southern.
17. News: Has The Unofficial Race For Mayor Already Begun?. Mike Matthews. December 18, 2014. December 19, 2014. Local Memphis. https://web.archive.org/web/20141219183559/http://www.localmemphis.com/story/d/story/has-the-unofficial-race-for-mayor-already-begun/41167/0CQAI2D9ZUGPiyv_lEpJtA. December 19, 2014. dead. mdy-all.
18. News: As Elections End, New Campaigns Begin. The Daily News. Bill Dries. November 25, 2013. December 19, 2014.
19. News: Strickland Upsets Wharton In Memphis Mayor's Race. Memphis Daily News. 2018-08-08.
20. News: Postmortem reports on the demise of A C Wharton as Memphis mayor. 2015-10-09. Humphrey on the Hill. 2018-08-08. en-US.
21. Web site: Memphis City Election 10.8.2015 Shelby County Election Commission, TN. www.shelbyvote.com. en. 2018-08-08.