Five Democrats are headed for a high-stakes clash over the Memphis-Shelby County Schools District 9 seat in a May 5 primary that will decide who speaks for neighborhoods across East and Southeast Memphis. On the ballot: incumbent Joyce Dorse-Coleman and challengers Tamara Jordan, Jonathan Carroll, Louis M. Morganfield III and Damon Curry-Morris. Voters will be weighing some of the most local of local issues - school closures, district leadership, and how the board should react if the state tries to assert more control over the school system.
According to the Daily Memphian, the candidates "range from a former board chair to the lone pro-state takeover candidate," and the May 5 Democratic primary will determine who wins the seat. The Shelby County Election Commission's certified list also shows those five names on the District 9 ballot, per the Shelby County Election Commission.
Who’s on the ballot
Incumbent Joyce Dorse-Coleman currently represents District 9 and has been a visible presence on the MSCS board in recent years. Memphis-Shelby County Schools lists Dorse-Coleman as the District 9 commissioner. Voter resources and campaign links for the challengers appear on the Memphis Public Library's meet-the-candidates hub, where voters can review basic campaign websites and contact information.
Why this race matters
State policy is the big backdrop. Tennessee lawmakers have advanced proposals that would let a state-appointed board take control of key district powers, including budgets and superintendent hires, and that possibility has become a central issue in local school races. As Chalkbeat reports, the takeover debate is shaping how candidates pitch themselves to District 9 voters.
Incumbent, activists and recent clashes
Dorse-Coleman’s record and leadership are under the microscope as neighbors sort through recent controversies at the district. Memphis-Shelby County Schools lists her as the District 9 board member. Challenger Damon Curry-Morris is a familiar face at board meetings, a frequent public speaker who was removed from a session in January 2025 and has been involved in litigation over the board’s public-comment rules, according to Action News 5.
Parents, closures and community pressure
Louis M. Morganfield III has put school closures and family input at the center of his pitch, arguing that the district has not done enough to consult parents about changes affecting smaller schools. Chalkbeat has reported on community fights over closures that helped propel organizers and candidates like Morganfield into this spring’s races.
How and when to vote
The May 5 Democratic primary will decide District 9’s next commissioner. Early voting in Shelby County runs April 15-20, and the sample ballot and polling locations are available from official county resources. See the Shelby County Election Commission and the Memphis Public Library for sample ballots, polling places and deadlines. The library also aggregates campaign links for each candidate.
Expect a tight, highly local contest. District 9 voters are choosing not just a commissioner, but which vision for Memphis schools will speak loudest on the board. Candidates are ramping up neighborhood forums and door-to-door outreach as the primary draws closer.
