John DeBerry, a longtime Memphis lawmaker and pastor, is jumping back into the political fray this week, announcing a bid for Shelby County mayor as a Republican. He says he is zeroing in on public safety and better schools, adding one of the county’s most recognizable conservative-leaning names to an already crowded race to replace term-limited Mayor Lee Harris.
DeBerry represented parts of Memphis in the Tennessee House for more than two decades before he was removed from the Democratic primary ballot in 2020 and later joined Gov. Bill Lee’s administration as a senior adviser, as reported by Action News 5. At his campaign launch, he told supporters he plans to make crime and schools the centerpiece of his run and argued that his record can appeal across party lines. Several backers at the event pointed to his long public-service tenure and built-in name recognition as political assets.
Party Switch Brings Both Boost And Baggage
DeBerry’s decision to run as a Republican caps a long and sometimes rocky career inside the Democratic fold. After 26 years in the state House, he was removed from the party's 2020 primary ballot, a history detailed by The Commercial Appeal. Local GOP leaders have embraced his switch, arguing that his experience could translate into concrete policy wins, while Democratic operatives and some voters counter that his alignment with Gov. Lee’s agenda could be a drag in a mostly blue county.
“I want folks to look at my character. I want them to look at my experience, I want them to look at my accomplishments,” DeBerry told reporters, according to Action News 5. He added that working closely with state and federal leaders will be crucial to “move Shelby County forward,” especially on issues like teacher pay and day-to-day school operations.
Where The Race Stands
According to the Shelby County Election Commission, the county primary is set for May 5, 2026, and candidates must qualify by noon on February 19 to make the ballot, a timeline outlined on the commission’s election page. The site spells out key dates as well as the downtown office where candidates file their petitions. If DeBerry secures the Republican nomination, he will meet a sizable Democratic field in the countywide contest.
Reaction to DeBerry’s move has been sharply divided. “Democrats hold a strong majority in Shelby County,” warned former county Democratic chair Keith Norman, while Shelby County GOP chair Rachel Wall praised DeBerry’s willingness to take “tangible action,” according to reporting by Yahoo. He is stepping into a race that already features candidates such as JB Smiley Jr., Mickell Lowery, and former schools superintendent Marie Feagins, per Wikipedia. With qualifying and early voting just around the corner, the next few weeks will test whether DeBerry’s cross-party pitch can overcome the county’s partisan math.
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