Shelby County voter guide: These are the key races on the Aug. 1 ballot

Another election year is here and voters in Shelby County have a host of choices to make in local, statewide and national races in the coming months.

Early voting for the Aug. 1 primary is underway and includes primary races for a U.S. Senate seat, multiple U.S. Congress seats and a variety of state House and Senate seats. Memphis and Shelby County voters also have the county general election to weigh in on.

Five Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board seats, which are nonpartisan, will be decided on Aug. 1. The race for General Sessions Court Clerk will also be decided then.

The below guide only includes county general elections and races that have contested primary elections for at least one party. You can find a full list of candidates, including in non-contested races and Independent candidates who will appear on the November ballot, in this story .

U.S. Senate

Incumbent Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn faces one primary challenger. On the other side, four candidates, including state Rep. Gloria Johnson and Memphian Marquita Bradshaw, are vying for the Democratic slot on the November general election ballot.

Learn more about the U.S. Senate candidates

U.S. House District 8

Republican incumbent Rep. David Kustoff does not have any challengers in the Aug. 1 party primary, but five Democrats ― including the 2022 Democratic nominee for the seat ― are vying to face him in November. The district covers a wide swath of West Tennessee, including suburban Shelby County. Kustoff cruised to victory in 2022, earning 74% of the vote that November.

Learn more about the U.S. House District 8 candidates

U.S. House District 9

Longtime incumbent Democrat Rep. Steve Cohen is running to retain his seat in the house and will face three challengers in August. Only Republican, Charlotte Bergman, qualified for the ballot, potentially setting up another November race between herself and Cohen. Cohen won that contest with 70% of the vote.

Learn more about the U.S. House District 9 candidates

Tennessee Senate District 30

Incumbent Democrat Sen. Sara Kyle is running to retain her seat in the Tennessee General Assembly and faces one challenger in the party primary. No Republican candidates qualified for the August primary ballot.

Learn more about the Tennessee Senate District 30 candidates

Tennessee House District 84

No Republicans or Independents qualified for the ballot, so the race for the Tennessee House District 84 seat will be settled between the two Democratic candidates, including incumbent Rep. Joe Towns Jr., on Aug. 1.

Learn more about the Tennessee House District 84 candidates

Tennessee House District 86

Incumbent Democrat Rep. Justin J Pearson faces a primary party challenge this year from David Page. The primary winner will go on to face Jeff Johnston, the only Independent to qualify for the ballot, in November.

Learn more about the Tennessee House District 86 candidates

Tennessee House District 93

Only one Republican qualified for the ballot and will go on to face the winner of the Democratic primary in November. Incumbent Democrat Rep. G.A. Hardaway faces a primary challenge this year from Lashanta Rudd.

Learn more about the Tennessee House District 93 candidates

Tennessee House District 96

No Republicans or Independents qualified for the August ballot, so the reach for the seat will be decided on Aug. 1. Five Democrats qualified for the seat, which will see a fresh face after the vote. Incumbent Rep. Dwayne Thompson is not seeking reelection this year.

Learn more about the Tennessee House District 96 candidates

Tennessee House District 97

Incumbent Republican Rep. John Gillespie faces one challenger in the party primary this year. The winner of that contest will face Jesse Huseth, the one Democrat to qualify for the August ballot, in the November election.

Learn more about the Tennessee House District 97 candidates

Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board District 2

Incumbent and current board chair Althea Greene faces two challengers for the District 2 seat this year.

Learn more about the Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board District 2 candidates

Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board District 3

Incumbent Stephanie Love will face three challengers this August as she attempts to retain her school board seat.

Learn more about the Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board District 3 candidates

Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board District 4

Incumbent Kevin Woods will not be seeking reelection this year, leaving the District 4 seat up for grabs. Five candidates have qualified for the ballot and will compete for the seat.

Learn more about the Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board District 4 candidates

Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board District 5

Incumbent Mauricio Calvo also faces three challengers as he looks to retain his seat this August.

Learn more about the Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board District 5 candidates

Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board District 7

Incumbent board member Frank Johnson faces four challengers for the District 7 seat this year.

Learn more about the Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board District 7 candidates

General Sessions Court Clerk

Having won the Democratic primary earlier this year, Tami Sawyer will face Republican candidate Lisa Arnold on Aug. 1. Sawyer ousted incumbent Joe Brown in the party primary in March.

Learn more about the General Sessions Court Clerk candidates

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Shelby County voter guide: These are the key races on the Aug. 1 ballot