MEMPHIS, Tenn. — You knew it was just a little of time, and now it is official. Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris will seek a second term in 2022.
The fact that Harris waited so long to announce his candidacy likely frustrated many of his core supporters. But it is typical of Harris’ style – deliberate and self-assured. Harris is confident that being the incumbent along with his track record winning elections will bode well as he seeks another four years in office.
He made the announcement in a video released Wednesday. In it, Harris touts his Whitehaven roots and the fact that he built a multiracial and multigenerational coalition to become mayor in 2018. And he’s ready to do it again.
Noticeably missing from the video is any mention of the word Democrat – even though Harris will be at the top of his party’s ticket should he win the May primary and go on to the August general election. His opponent there would likely be city councilman Worth Morgan, who is the only Republican so far to announce a county mayoral bid.
At this point, Harris is the odds-on favorite to win reelection. But he will have to address his handling of the local response to COVID-19, which had some rocky moments during the rollout of the vaccines.
All in all, it promises to be an interesting race now that Harris has finally said he’s in it.