The Tennessee Registry of Election Finance on March 31 dismissed a complaint against Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, ruling that her use of federal campaign funds falls under Federal Election Commission (FEC) jurisdiction rather than state authority. The complaint, filed by Knoxville Republican Gary Loe, alleged Blackburn improperly used her U.S. Senate campaign account to fund her gubernatorial run. According to Knox News, state officials found she did not violate state law because her governor's campaign account was not yet open when the disputed spending occurred, and because Tennessee's ban on using federal funds for state purposes only applies to direct transfers between accounts. Blackburn, who announced her gubernatorial bid in August, is running in the Aug. 5 Republican primary against state Rep. Monty Fritts and U.S. Rep. John Rose.

The Knoxville Bar Association (KBA) released the results of a member poll regarding judicial candidates in the May 5 primary. The survey included candidates for the offices of Knox County Criminal Court judge; Knox County General Sessions Court judge; Knox County Circuit, Civil Sessions and Juvenile Court clerk; and Knox County Criminal Court clerk. The KBA’s nonpartisan Judicial Committee oversaw the survey. Local attorneys — 363 in this case — anonymously rated candidates as strongly recommended, recommended, not recommended, strongly not recommended or no knowledge. Read more and view results here.

Memphis City Councilmember JB Smiley has announced his candidacy for Shelby County mayor in the upcoming August election. Smiley received his law degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock's William H. Bowen School of Law. Following graduation he started Smiley & Associates in 2017. Serving on the city council since 2020, Smiley has led initiatives such as co-sponsoring a resolution in support of the After School Act to strengthen after-school programs aimed to reduce crime among at-risk youth. His focus has been on police brutality, criminal justice and blight in predominantly Black neighborhoods. Learn more on his campaign website www.votejbsmiley.com or in a press kit.

Brett Windrow has announced that he will run for the Tennessee House of Representatives District 13 seat. Windrow, an attorney and graduate of Belmont University College of Law, said he is seeking the office to address economic, infrastructure and education challenges facing the district, which includes parts of Rutherford County. Windrow has prior experience working with the General Assembly and said he aims to improve affordability, support public schools and represent the interests of working families. “Government’s most basic job is to make people’s lives better. For too long in Tennessee, it has failed to do so. I’m running to change that,” Windrow said. Read more in a press release and on his campaign website.

Judge Chris Frulla announced he will seek reelection to Shelby County Circuit Court, Division 3 on the Aug. 6 ballot. Frulla earned his law degree from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis and practiced law at Rainey, Kizer, Reviere & Bell PLC from 2012 until his appointment to the bench. He was appointed to the Circuit Court by Gov. Bill Lee in August 2025. “For me, being a judge is about more than just handling cases — it’s about making a meaningful difference for the citizens of Shelby County and the community I love,” Frulla said. Read more about Frulla on his campaign website.

Juvenile Court Magistrate Judge Mitzi H. Pollard has announced her candidacy for Shelby County Circuit Court Division 3. She received her law degree in 2001 from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. Pollard was a sole practitioner for more than 12 years, focusing on mediation, juvenile and family law, and advocating for vulnerable children and working families. She was appointed magistrate judge by Judge Dan Michael in 2015 and reappointed in 2022 by Judge Tarik Sugarmon. Pollard says in a statement that throughout her legal career, she has "remained deeply committed to public service, professional excellence and the fair and impartial administration of justice. My candidacy is rooted in a desire to continue that service on the Circuit Court bench — ensuring that every litigant is treated with dignity, that the law is applied faithfully and that our courts remain accessible, efficient and trusted by the community." Learn more at www.pollardforjudge.com.

Memphis attorney Jahari Dowdy has announced her candidacy for Shelby County Criminal Court judge in Division 1. Dowdy, a graduate of Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge, has two decades of experience in criminal law and is the owner of the Law Office of J.M. Dowdy PLLC. Her practice has included representing clients in both state and federal courts, handling cases ranging from misdemeanors to serious violent felonies. Dowdy said her work has focused on thorough case investigations, careful review of evidence and maintaining clear communication with clients and their families. Her courtroom experience includes jury and bench trials, as well as suppression, bail and preliminary hearings. Read more in a press release or visit her campaign website.

Two Democratic candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives — Elizabeth Stephens of Nashville, who is running in the 5th Congressional District, and Jacob Anders of Tullahoma, who is running in the 4th Congressional District — are suing the Tennessee Democratic Party after being disqualified from their primaries. The two candidates argue that the party’s appeal hearing procedures were unfair and failed to provide due process. They are seeking a temporary restraining order to ensure their names appear on the August ballot. The Nashville Banner reports on the development.

Magistrate Shayla Purifoy has announced her campaign for judge on the Shelby County General Sessions Civil Court, Division 2. Purifoy graduated from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law and joined Memphis Area Legal Services as a staff attorney in the civil Domestic Violence and Family Law Unit. In 2016, she was appointed to the magistrate judge role, where she hears criminal and civil matters. Purifoy was president of the Ben F. Jones Chapter of the National Bar Association in 2020 and remains involved in community groups and local and statewide legal organizations. Purifoy says she will use the General Sessions position to promote understanding in the judiciary through community outreach. She also pledges to run a fair and efficient courtroom for all those who come before her. Read more in a press release or visit her campaign website.

Nashville attorney and former Metro Nashville Public Defender (PD) Dawn Deaner has announced her candidacy for Division III Criminal Court judge. Deaner, who has nearly 30 years of experience in Nashville’s criminal courts, said she is running to bring “experience, perspective, and humanity” to the bench. She served as public defender from 2008 to 2018, where she led reforms such as implementing workload controls, launching a Court Watch program and advancing pretrial release efforts. Prior to that role, she worked for more than a decade as an assistant public defender. Deaner also founded the Choosing Justice Initiative, a nonprofit focused on expanding access to justice, and has been involved in efforts such as the Nashville Community Bail Fund and the Steering Clear Driver’s License Diversion Program. Read more in a press release.