Latest Memphis, Tenn.: Stewart out weeks with ankle sprain
MEMPHIS, TN · WEST TENNESSEE / MID-SOUTH EDITION · SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2026
BUSINESS DIRECTORY | ADD YOUR BUSINESS | NEWSLETTER | SUBMIT A TIP
HERE City Network
HEREMemphis
Why It Matters. HERE!
Memphis, Tenn.: Stewart out weeks with ankle sprain Memphis, Tenn.: UTHSC breaks ground on $350M medicine building Memphis, Tenn.: Council passes data center rules first reading Memphis, Tenn., Schools Takeover Board Reconvenes Thursday Memphis, Tenn., Council Resumes Data Center Moratorium Talks
Memphis TN Politics & Government

Memphis TN Politics & Civic News

Covering Memphis City Council, Shelby County Council, TN General Assembly, and your federal representatives in Washington, D.C. Accountability journalism for Shelby County residents.

City Council County Council TN Senate TN House US Congress Elections Civic Issues
POLITICS NOW
POLITICSMemphis, Tenn.: Council passes data center rules first reading◆POLITICSMemphis, Tenn., Council Resumes Data Center Moratorium Talks◆POLITICSQatar Mediation Efforts Highlight Iran De-escalation Talks◆POLITICSMemphis, Tenn.: Council passes data center rules first reading◆POLITICSMemphis, Tenn., Council Resumes Data Center Moratorium Talks◆POLITICSQatar Mediation Efforts Highlight Iran De-escalation Talks◆

Shelby County sits inside one of the most layered governmental structures in the region. Residents answer to at least five levels of elected authority simultaneously: the federal government, statewide offices, Shelby County Council, Memphis City Council, and school district boards — each a separately elected body covering its own geographic slice of the county.

Shelby’s federal delegation includes US Rep. Steve Cohen (TN-9) and Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty. In Columbia, Memphis is represented by Sen. Raumesh Akbari (TN Senate 29) and Rep. Karen Camper (TN House 87).

Shelby County Council controls property tax millage, land-use zoning outside city limits, and fee-in-lieu-of-tax agreements. Downtown zoning decisions and the Memphis Police Department budget run through Memphis City Council. State funding for schools, roads, and Medicaid flows from the Tennessee General Assembly. The Shelby County Elections and Voter Registration Office administers local balloting under Tennessee Secretary of State — Elections oversight.

HEREMemphis covers Shelby County Council meetings, Memphis City Council sessions, Tennessee General Assembly session, federal delegation votes and town halls, school board meetings, and candidate filing windows. We also pull FOIA-sourced travel records and contracts at both the city and county level. If it shapes how Shelby County is governed, it’s HERE.

Live Updates

HERE! NOW! — Politics

Pre-Breaking Political Briefs — As It Develops
Live Political Feed HEREMemphis · Politics Category
Oct 9 Memphis, Tenn.: Council passes data center rules first reading
Oct 8 Memphis, Tenn., Council Resumes Data Center Moratorium Talks
Jul 11 Qatar Mediation Efforts Highlight Iran De-escalation Talks
Tip line: See something? Send tips to [email protected] or tag us #MemphisPolitics
Community Accountability
What's Wrong HERE?
Report infrastructure issues, government failures, and civic concerns

Report a Civic Issue

Anonymous. No sign-up. Your report goes to the right people.

1 Category
2 Where is it?
0/200
3 Describe the Issue
0/120
0/500

100% anonymous — no name, no email, no account needed

HOW IT WORKS

Your Voice. Their Responsibility.

The only local news platform where citizens can publicly surface issues to elected officials and get answers.

1
Report Your Issue
Select a category, choose your location, and describe the problem. No sign-up, no email, completely anonymous. Your identity is never collected or stored.
2
We Match You to Officials
Our system identifies which elected officials and government agencies have jurisdiction over your issue — from the Mayor and City Council to your State Representative and U.S. Congressman.
3
Public Accountability
Your issue is published publicly with the names of officials who can help. Politicians, campaign managers, and community leaders monitor this page. When their name appears next to a problem, they pay attention.
Why Use This?
It's anonymous. No name, no email, no account. Your privacy is absolute.
It creates a public record. Issues don't disappear into a voicemail box or email inbox. They're visible to the entire community.
Officials are watching. Every elected official in Shelby knows their name appears here when constituents report problems in their jurisdiction.
Community upvoting. Other residents can upvote your issue, showing officials how many people care about the same problem.

HERE Answers

Civic issues submitted by the community. Answers pending from officials.

No issues reported yet. Be the first to speak up.

Community Voice

Memphis Speaks

Voice your opinion on local political issues
POLITICS 281 responses

What do you think: Memphis, Tenn.: Council passes data center rules first reading?

Strongly support — this is overdue 42%
Cautious support — depends on the details 21%
Skeptical — need to see the cost first 17%
Oppose — not the right direction for Memphis 20%
Based on our coverage · October 9, 2026
POLITICS 394 responses

What do you think: Memphis, Tenn., Council Resumes Data Center Moratorium Talks?

Strongly support — this is overdue 32%
Cautious support — depends on the details 23%
Skeptical — need to see the cost first 17%
Oppose — not the right direction for Memphis 28%
Based on our coverage · October 8, 2026
Political Coverage

Local & State Political News

Memphis, Shelby County, & Tennessee Capitol
All Political News →
Memphis, Tenn.: Council passes data center rules first reading
Oct 9, 2026
Memphis, Tenn.: Council passes data center rules first reading
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis City Council members on Thursday passed two ordinances regulating data centers on first reading, advancing zoning changes while leaving a proposed temporary moratorium on new data centers for a later vote. The measures must pass two more readings to be enacted, and the council agenda packet included few details on the
Memphis, Tenn., Council Resumes Data Center Moratorium Talks
Oct 8, 2026
Memphis, Tenn., Council Resumes Data Center Moratorium Talks
The Memphis City Council in Memphis, Tenn., returns Thursday to the proposed data center moratorium, two days after a meeting on the ordinance broke down amid protests and a fight in the City Hall lobby. Council member Jana Swearengen-Washington announced Wednesday that the body will pick up where Tuesday's meeting left off, with a committee
Qatar Mediation Efforts Highlight Iran De-escalation Talks
Jul 11, 2026
Qatar Mediation Efforts Highlight Iran De-escalation Talks
A Qatar-linked mediation initiative has emerged as a critical thread in ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions involving Iran in the…
Evergreen Guides
Political Resource Center
Civic education & voter resources for Shelby County residents
🗳️
Voter Registration Guide
How to register in Tennessee, key deadlines, and what to expect at the polls. Photo ID required.
Register at sos.tn.gov/elections →
🔍
How to Evaluate Candidates
Research voting records, campaign finance, debate performance, and endorsements before Election Day.
Read the guide →
🗺️
Find Your District
Look up your TN Senate, House, and Congressional districts after the latest redistricting.
Find your rep →
🏛️
How TN Government Works
The structure of City, County, State, and Federal government — who does what and where decisions get made.
Read the explainer →
🤝
Civic Participation Guide
How to attend town halls, submit public comment, contact your rep, and volunteer on local campaigns.
Get involved →
📖
Political Terms Glossary
Plain-English definitions of quorum, ordinance, referendum, appropriations, redistricting, and more.
Browse the glossary →
Upcoming

Civic Calendar

Political Events & Deadlines — Shelby County
Upcoming EventsUpcoming events for this section post here as they are announced. Check back soon.
Finance Transparency
HERE's the Money Trail
Campaign finance & lobbying — Tennessee Ethics Commission data
💰
Money Trail
Tennessee Ethics Commission · Campaign Finance Reports
LOCAL RACES — Shelby County
Candidate / Office Total Raised Total Spent Balance Last Filed
No local campaign finance reports filed for the current period. Check back after the next Tennessee Ethics Commission filing window.
STATEWIDE RACES
Candidate / Party Total Raised Party Local Tie Source

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—
Source: Tennessee Ethics Commission · Public Disclosure Reports
Elected Officials

Your Memphis Reps

Every official with a vote on Memphis's future — pulled live from our roster.

City of Memphis
City
Paul Young
Memphis Mayor
D
Shelby County Council
County
Lee Harris
Shelby County Mayor
D
County
Floyd Bonner Jr.
Shelby County Sheriff
D
County
Steven Mulroy
Shelby County District Attorney General
D
TN State Senate — Shelby County
State Senate
Raumesh Akbari
State Senator (TN Senate 29)
TN Senate 29
D
TN House of Representatives — Shelby County
State House
Karen Camper
State Representative (TN House 87)
TN House 87
D
US Congress — TN
US House
Steve Cohen
U.S. Representative TN-9
TN-9
D
US Senate
US Senate
Marsha Blackburn
U.S. Senator
Since 2019
R
US Senate
Bill Hagerty
U.S. Senator
Since 2021
R
HEREMemphis · Free Newsletter

HERE Politics Brief

Local government news, voting alerts, and civic updates — free every weekday morning for Shelby County residents.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Delivered by HEREMemphis.
Quick Access

Quick Resources

Official links for Shelby County civic engagement
TN Voter Registration (govote.tn.gov) → Memphis City Council Agendas → Shelby County Council → Tennessee General Assembly → Find Your District (TN) → Find Your US Rep → Tennessee Ethics Commission → Shelby County Elections Office → City of Memphis Official Site → Rep. Steve Cohen · TN-9 → Sen. Marsha Blackburn · US → Sen. Bill Hagerty · US →
@HERECityNetwork Live Feed
Follow →
Follow the conversation #MemphisPolitics — tag @HERECityNetwork to be heard Submit a Tip → [email protected]
ITS ALL HERE! Politics News Near You!
THE HERE CITY NETWORK
Nashville, TN Chattanooga, TN Knoxville, TN Clemson, SC Greenville, SC Bristol, TN Greenwood, SC Spartanburg, SC Clinton, SC Newberry, SC

Latest Memphis Politics News

  1. Memphis, Tenn.: Council passes data center rules first reading

    MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis City Council members on Thursday passed two ordinances regulating data centers on first reading, advancing zoning changes while leaving a proposed temporary moratorium on…

  2. Memphis, Tenn., Council Resumes Data Center Moratorium Talks

    The Memphis City Council in Memphis, Tenn., returns Thursday to the proposed data center moratorium, two days after a meeting on the ordinance broke down amid protests and…

  3. Qatar Mediation Efforts Highlight Iran De-escalation Talks

    A Qatar-linked mediation initiative has emerged as a critical thread in ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions involving Iran in the Gulf region. This development follows a period marked…