Metro Nashville Council member Mike Cortese is running the most well-funded congressional challenge to U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais in more than a decade in Tennessee's newly redrawn 4th Congressional District, according to the Tennessean. Lawmakers redrew the district earlier this year. Republican DesJarlais, who has represented the district since 2011, is seeking another term. Democrat Cortese, who shifted his campaign from the 5th District after redistricting, has focused on affordability and representation. DesJarlais has been touting his congressional record and committee work. As of March 31, Cortese had outraised the incumbent, bringing in more than $534,000 compared with DesJarlais' nearly $381,000. Analysts continue to view the race as favoring the Republican incumbent though according to the paper.

A number of deadlines are approaching for Tennessee’s Aug. 6 election. Voters that day will select primary candidates for governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, state Senate (odd-numbered districts), state House, and Republican and Democratic state executive committees. General elections also will be held for vacant state judicial offices and county offices. The deadline to register to vote is July 7. Early voting will begin on July 17 and run through Aug. 1. July 27 is the last day to request an absentee ballot. Learn more about the 2026 election cycle on the secretary of state’s website.

Lashanta Rudd, who had planned to run a write-in campaign in the Democratic primary for Tennessee House District 93, has withdrawn from that race, according to the Commercial Appeal. Rudd, a future Shelby County commissioner, is founder and CEO of Serving in Christ Outreach Ministry. She was being investigated by the City of Memphis for alleged misuse of grant funds. According to documents obtained by the Commercial Appeal, the nonprofit used funds to buy a car, get an oil change and complete residential renovations. The city confirmed the investigation and said the audit resulted in her being banned from future grants. Rudd still is set to join the county commission. She won the Democratic primary in May and is unopposed in the Aug. 6 general election.

Patricia Cassidy has announced she will seek reelection as East Ridge city court clerk in the Nov. 3 election, Chattanoogan.com reports. Cassidy, who has served as court clerk for the past 12 years, said she has more than 30 years of experience in the legal field and has called East Ridge home for more than 25 years. In announcing her campaign, Cassidy highlighted the court clerk's role in supporting the city's justice system and said she is committed to continuing to provide experienced leadership and dependable service to the community.

The Shelby County Election Commission certified eight candidates last week in a special election for county criminal judge, according to the Daily Memphian. The candidates are David “Hawk” Allen, Javier Bailey II, Katie Ratton, Latonya Sue Burrow, John L. Dolan, Chris Ingram, Joe Ozment and Ruchee Patel. The commission also approved sites for early voting, which will run from July 17 to Aug. 1.

Rep. T.J. Hardaway, D-Memphis, has announced his campaign for House of Representatives District 93 seat. Hardaway said he will forgo the Aug. 6 primary and instead run as a write-in candidate in the Nov. 3 general election, according to Local Memphis. Hardaway currently represents the district after being appointed to the seat following the death of his father, former Rep. G.A. Hardaway. The younger Hardaway said he chose to announce his campaign Thursday because that would have been his father's 72nd birthday. Hardaway's appointment to the seat will end on Nov. 3 unless he wins the general election.

Michelle Foreman is challenging state Rep. Lee Reeves, R-Franklin, for the Republican nomination in Tennessee House District 65, according to the Williamson Scene. Foreman said her top legislative priorities include increasing transparency in the state’s school voucher program, despite unsuccessful efforts by both Republicans and Democrats to advance related legislation this year. Reeves supported the school voucher program championed by Gov. Bill Lee in 2025. Foreman told the news outlet that she is concerned about special-interest funding in the race leading to misleading campaign messaging. The general election is scheduled for Nov. 3.

Outgoing Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk Heidi Kuhn formally declared her candidacy for Tennessee's 8th Congressional District on June 4, according to the Commercial Appeal. Kuhn had already qualified for the ballot. Her announcement came less than a month after she lost the Democratic primary for Shelby County mayor. Her final term as criminal court clerk will end in September. Kuhn said her campaign is focused on affordability and increasing the federal minimum wage. If she wins the Democratic primary in August, Kuhn will face incumbent U.S. Rep. David Kustoff, who is running unopposed in the Republican primary. Kustoff has represented the 8th Congressional District since 2017.

The Shelby County Election Commission will add a special election for criminal court judge to the Aug. 6 ballot following the decision by Criminal Court Judge Chris Craft to move up his retirement date from July to June 7, the Daily Memphian reports. Candidates may begin obtaining qualifying petitions on June 8 and must file them with the Election Commission by June 17. The withdrawal deadline for qualified candidates is June 20. The Division 8 race joins five other special judicial elections already on the August ballot: Chancery Part 2, Circuit Court Division 3, Criminal Court Division 1, General Sessions Civil Court Division 2 and General Sessions Criminal Court Division 7. See a list of all of candidates who have qualified with the Shelby County Election Commission for the August ballot.

Cosby resident Sheila Grooms McMahan has announced her candidacy for Tennessee state representative in District 11. Newport Plain Talk reports that her campaign will focus on preserving the traditions and way of life that define East Tennessee while addressing the pressures facing rural families. McMahan has voiced strong opposition to private school voucher programs, arguing they divert critical funding from public schools and fail to benefit average families. She also said she will focus on property tax reform, the rising costs of utilities and everyday essentials, economic development, and reducing unnecessary government spending while prioritizing core services such as infrastructure, education and health care.