With a qualifying deadline set as soon as December 15, would-be candidates are rushing to get their petitions for the state House District 86 seat made vacant by the recent death of longtime legislator Barbara Cooper, who died in October at the age of 93.
With more names expected, the list of would-be candidates as of early Monday — all Democrats so far — include Julian Bolton, Tanya Cooper, Clifford Lewis, Will Richardson, and Justin Pearson.
Bolton served several terms on the Shelby County Commission, Tanya Cooper (Barbara Cooper’s daughter) was a recent candidate for General Sessions Court Clerk, Lewis is an activist, Richardson was Barbara Cooper’s unsuccessful opponent in the 2022 Democratic primary, and Pearson was the youthful leader of the successful 2021 anti-pipeline movement in South Memphis.
Primary date for the special District 86 election is January 24, with the general election scheduled for March 14.
The name of Barbara Cooper, the longest-serving Tennessee legislator, remained on the November election ballot, and received enough votes to certify her as the winner. Governor Bill Lee issued a writ of election for the vacated seat on November 28.