2007 Memphis mayoral election

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2007 Memphis mayoral election
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← 2003October 4, 2007 2009 (special)  →
  Rudy Giuliani and Willie Herenton (47479766912) (closest crop.jpg 3x4.svg 3x4.svg
Nominee Willie Herenton Carol Chumney Herman Morris
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Popular vote70,19257,19635,161
Percentage42.44%34.58%21.26%
Mayor before election

Willie Herenton
Nonpartisan

Elected Mayor

Willie Herenton
Nonpartisan

The 2007 Memphis mayoral election took place on October 4, 2007. Incumbent Mayor Willie Herenton ran for re-election to a fifth term. Herenton entered the campaign with a negative job approval, [1] and popular Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton was seen as a strong possible opponent. A draft movement attempted to persuade Wharton to challenge Herenton, but he ultimately declined to run. [2] Herenton's leading opponents were City Councilmember Carol Chumney and Herman Morris, the former President and CEO of Memphis Light, Gas and Water. Wharton ultimately won re-election with a plurality of the vote, winning 42 percent of the vote to Chumney's 35 percent and Morris's 21 percent. [3]

Contents

However, Wharton would not end up serving his full term as Mayor. In 2009, as he unsuccessfully challenged Democratic Congressman Steve Cohen for re-election in 2010, Herenton resigned as Mayor, triggering a special election. [4]

General election

Candidates

Declined

Disqualified

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Carol
Chumney		Willie
Herenton		Herman
Morris		John
Willingham		James
Perkins		Other/
Others		UndecidedDeclined
Ethridge and Associates [1] April 1–3, 2007500 (LV)± 4.4%32%20%16%3%–2%25%2%
Ethridge and Associates [16] July 8–10, 2007500 (LV)± 4.4%24%24%12%1%3%–29%–
Ethridge and Associates [17] September 23–25, 2007500 (LV)± 4.4%19%24%19%––3%22%14%
Hypothetical polling

With A C Wharton

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		A C
Wharton		Carol
Chumney		Willie
Herenton		Herman
Morris		James
Perkins		John
Willingham		OtherUndecidedDeclined
Ethridge and Associates [1] April 1–3, 2007500 (LV)± 4.4%31%20%12%9%–3%4%19%2%
Ethridge and Associates [16] July 8–10, 2007500 (LV)± 4.4%30%14%18%6%1%1%–23%–

Results

2007 Memphis mayoral election results [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Willie Herenton (inc.) 70,192 42.44%
Nonpartisan Carol Chumney57,19634.58%
Nonpartisan Herman Morris35,16121.26%
Nonpartisan John H. Willingham1,1180.68%
Nonpartisan Sharon A. Webb5100.31%
Nonpartisan Laura Davis Aaron1810.11%
Nonpartisan Carlos F. Boyland1600.10%
Nonpartisan Roosevelt Jamison1570.09%
Nonpartisan DeWayne A. Jones, Sr.1400.08%
Nonpartisan Fred Askew1260.08%
Nonpartisan Randy L. Cagle1130.07%
Nonpartisan Bill Jacox950.06%
Nonpartisan James McKay920.06%
Nonpartisan Bill McAllister840.05%
Write-in 720.04%
Total votes165,397 100.00%

Notes

  1. 1 2 Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear

References

  1. 1 2 3 Jones, Jacinthia (April 9, 2007). "Chumney early leader for mayor". The Commercial Appeal . Memphis, Tennessee. p. A1, A5. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Jones, Jacinthia (July 17, 2007). "Wharton won't answer draft bell". The Commercial Appeal . Memphis, Tennessee. p. A1. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  3. ↑ Jones, Jacinthia (October 5, 2007). "Still the one: Mayor seeks unity, calls out 'haters'". The Commercial Appeal . Memphis, Tennessee. p. A1. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  4. ↑ Baker, Jackson (July 30, 2009). "Herenton has left the building". Action 5 News . Memphis, Tennessee . Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  5. ↑ Jones, Jacinthia; Perrusquia, Marc (July 4, 2007). "Herenton lashes out". The Commercial Appeal . Memphis, Tennessee. p. A1. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  6. ↑ Jones, Jacinthia (August 22, 2006). "Race on for city mayor". The Commercial Appeal . Memphis, Tennessee. p. B1. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  7. ↑ Jones, Jacinthia (March 1, 2007). "Morris jumps into Memphis mayor race". The Commercial Appeal . Memphis, Tennessee. p. B6. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  8. ↑ Doniach, Alex (February 11, 2007). "Dutch Treat Luncheon's legacy is carried on by a new generation". The Commercial Appeal . Memphis, Tennessee. p. B9. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  9. ↑ Jones, Jacinthia (July 18, 2007). "School board's Webb to run for city mayor". The Commercial Appeal . Memphis, Tennessee. p. B1. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  10. 1 2 "City of Memphis: Mayor". The Commercial Appeal: Voter Guide. Memphis, Tennessee. September 23, 2007. p. 2. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  11. 1 2 3 Baker, Jackson (July 26, 2007). "Four More Years?". Memphis Flyer . Memphis, Tennessee . Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  12. 1 2 "14 candidates duke it out for city's top spot". Action 5 News . Memphis, Tennessee. September 28, 2007. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Quick List - Candidates in the October 4, 2007 Memphis municipal election". Action 5 News . Memphis, Tennessee. August 3, 2007. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  14. ↑ Jones, Jacinthia (July 20, 2007). "Sixteen file for mayor". The Commercial Appeal . Memphis, Tennessee. p. A1. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  15. 1 2 Jones, Jacinthia (July 20, 2007). "It's crowded at top in mayor's race". The Commercial Appeal . Memphis, Tennessee. p. A7. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  16. 1 2 Jones, Jacinthia (July 15, 2007). "Poll: Wharton is election wild card". The Commercial Appeal . Memphis, Tennessee. p. A1, A4. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  17. ↑ Jones, Jacinthia (September 30, 2007). "Too close to call". The Commercial Appeal . Memphis, Tennessee. p. A1, A4. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  18. ↑ "MEMPHIS MUNICIPAL ELECTION - OCTOBER 4, 2007 - SHELBY COUNTY, TENNESSEE" (PDF). Shelby County Election Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 7, 2009. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
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