2009 Memphis mayoral special election
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| Elections in Tennessee |
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 Government |
The 2009 Memphis mayoral special election took place on October 15, 2009. Mayor Willie Herenton resigned on July 30, 2009, in anticipation of his 2010 campaign against Democratic Congressman Steve Cohen.[1] Following Herenton's resignation, City Council Chairman Myron Lowery, a former WMC-TV news reporter, was elevated as Mayor Pro Tem, and served until the special election.[2] Though Herenton suggested that he might run in the ensuing special election because of Lowery's "reckless style of leadership,"[3] Herenton ultimately opted not to.[4]
Twenty-five candidates ran in the special election, including Lowery, County Mayor A C Wharton, former City Councilmember Carol Chumney, attorney Charles Carpenter, and professional wrester Jerry Lawler. Wharton ended up winning the election in a landslide, receiving 60 percent of the vote.[5]
General election
Candidates
- A C Wharton, Mayor of Shelby County[6]
- Myron Lowery, incumbent Mayor Pro Tem[7]
- Carol Chumney, Memphis City Councilmember, 2007 candidate for Mayor[6]
- Charles Carpenter, attorney, Herenton campaign manager[8]
- Jerry Lawler, former professional wrestler[8]
- Kenneth Whalum, Jr., Memphis City School Board member[9]
- John Willingham, former County Commissioner, 2003 and 2007 candidate for Mayor of Memphis, 2006 Republican nominee for Mayor of Shelby County[10]
- Wanda Halbert, City Councilmember[11]
- Detric W. Stigall, city park services administrator[12]
- Robert Hodges, perennial candidate[13]
- Sharon A. Webb, Memphis City Schools Board member, 2007 candidate for Mayor[14]
- E. C. Jones, former City Councilmember[15]
- Leo AwGoWhat
- Silky Sullivan, Beale Street restaurateur[16]
- Mary Wright
- Dewey Clark, bail bondsman[17]
- Menelik Fombi
- Johnny Hatcher, Jr.
- Randy L. Cagle, businessman, 2007 candidate for Mayor
- James M. Clingan
- David W. Vinciarelli
- Constance Houston
- Ernest A. Lunati
- De Wayne Jones
- Vuong Vaughn Vo
Declined
- Jack Sammons, former City Councilmember[18]
- Jim Strickland, City Councilmember[19]
- Willie Herenton, former Mayor[4]
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
A C Wharton |
Carol Chumney |
Myron Lowery |
Charles Carpenter |
Kenneth Whalum Jr. |
Jerry Lawler |
Leo AwGoWhat |
Wanda Halbert |
Robert Hodges |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy[20] | September 14–16, 2009 | 400 (LV) | ± 5.0% | 45% | 11% | 10% | 5% | 3% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 21% |
| WREG Channel 3 News[21] | October 9–11, 2009 | 400 (LV) | ± 5.0% | 53% | 9% | 16% | 3% | 5% | 4% | – | – | – | 7% |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | A C Wharton | 65,529 | 59.89% | |
| Nonpartisan | Myron Lowery (inc.) | 19,644 | 17.95% | |
| Nonpartisan | Carol Chumney | 10,863 | 9.93% | |
| Nonpartisan | Charles Carpenter | 5,187 | 4.74% | |
| Nonpartisan | Jerry Lawler | 4,049 | 3.70% | |
| Nonpartisan | Kenneth Whalum, Jr. | 2,099 | 1.92% | |
| Nonpartisan | John Willingham | 438 | 0.40% | |
| Nonpartisan | Wanda Halbert | 372 | 0.34% | |
| Nonpartisan | Detric W. Stigall | 280 | 0.26% | |
| Nonpartisan | Robert Hodges | 267 | 0.24% | |
| Nonpartisan | Sharon A. Webb | 124 | 0.11% | |
| Nonpartisan | E. C. Jones | 85 | 0.08% | |
| Nonpartisan | Leo AwGoWhat | 54 | 0.05% | |
| Nonpartisan | Silky Sullivan | 51 | 0.05% | |
| Nonpartisan | Mary Wright | 42 | 0.04% | |
| Nonpartisan | Dewey Clark | 40 | 0.04% | |
| Nonpartisan | Menelik Fombi | 36 | 0.03% | |
| Nonpartisan | Johnny Hatcher, Jr. | 33 | 0.03% | |
| Nonpartisan | Randy L. Cagle | 29 | 0.03% | |
| Nonpartisan | James M. Clingan | 27 | 0.02% | |
| Nonpartisan | David W. Vinciarelli | 27 | 0.02% | |
| Nonpartisan | Constance Houston | 25 | 0.02% | |
| Nonpartisan | Ernest A. Lunati | 22 | 0.02% | |
| Nonpartisan | De Wayne Jones | 21 | 0.02% | |
| Nonpartisan | Vuong Vaughn Vo | 20 | 0.02% | |
| Write-in | 55 | 0.05% | ||
| Total votes | 109,408 | 100.00% | ||
Notes
- ^ Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear
References
- ^ Baker, Jackson (July 30, 2009). "Herenton has left the building". Action 5 News. Memphis, Tennessee. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
- ^ McMillin, Zack (June 26, 2009). "Lowery takes long path to top job". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee. p. A4. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
- ^ Doniach, Alex (August 14, 2009). "Mayoral madness: Herenton may attempt to replace himself as mayor, citing 'reckless' Lowery". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee. p. A1. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
- ^ a b Maki, Amos (August 25, 2009). "Herenton: I won't run for mayor". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee. p. A1. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
- ^ Doniach, Alex (October 16, 2009). "Hot for AC: Wharton wins with 60 percent of vote; turnout less than 25 percent". Memphis Flyer. Memphis, Tennessee. p. A1. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
- ^ a b McMillin, Zack (June 26, 2009). "Several potential candidates". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee. p. A1. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
- ^ Doniach, Alex (August 2, 2009). "Crowded race has observers guessing". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee. p. A1. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
- ^ a b McMillin, Zack (July 9, 2009). "Herenton political chief, wrestler to enter race". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee. p. DSA3. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
- ^ McMillin, Zack (June 30, 2009). "Whalum will run for mayor in special election". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee. p. B1. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
- ^ McMillin, Zack (August 19, 2009). "Mayor's race crowded - 31 pull petitions". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee. p. B6. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
- ^ McMillin, Zack (August 4, 2009). "Halbert running for mayor". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee. p. B1. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
- ^ "Meet the Candidates: Detric Stigall". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee. September 18, 2009. p. B5. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
- ^ "Prince Mongo joins Memphis mayor's race". Action 5 News. Memphis, Tennessee. July 24, 2009. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
- ^ Baker, Jackson (September 3, 2009). "Who's on First? 28 People, Maybe 29 File for Mayor". Memphis Flyer. Memphis, Tennessee. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
- ^ Doniach, Alex (August 15, 2009). "After sentencing, dad turns candidate". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee. p. A1. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
- ^ Doniach, Alex (September 4, 2009). "36 put hats in mayoral circus ring". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee. p. A1. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
- ^ "Meet the Candidates: Dewey Clark". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee. September 20, 2009. p. B6. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
- ^ McMillin, Zack (July 1, 2009). "Lowery begins transition to mayor". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee. p. A1. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
- ^ Doniach, Alex (July 25, 2009). "One less to run in mayoral election". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee. p. B1. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
- ^ McMillin, Zack (September 18, 2009). "Survey puts Wharton in lead". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee. p. A1, A7. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
- ^ McMillin, Zack (October 13, 2009). "Wharton widens lead in new poll". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee. p. A1, A3. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
- ^ "Election Summary Report - Special State Primaries and Municipal Elections - Shelby County, TN" (PDF). Shelby County Election Commission. October 23, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 17, 2010. Retrieved July 21, 2025.