MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Shelby County Commission has an interesting decision to make later this week. It will pick an interim state senator to replace Democrat Katrina Robinson, who was expelled for the seat last month by the Republican supermajority in the Senate.
Six candidates have applied for the position. But in my mind, only two are likely to be serious contenders when the commission makes a selection on Thursday. They are state House members London Lamar and Torrey Harris.
And that’s where it gets interesting. Because of redistricting, the House districts currently represented by Lamar and Harris have been melded into one, forcing them to run against each in the August state primary. But Lamar has already pulled a petition to run for the senate seat outright, as well as for the House seat. So here’s how I believe this will play out.
Lamar is my odds-on favorite to get the interim appointment, which will put her in an even stronger position to win in August and in the November general election. That would allow Harris to then run for the consolidated House seat, where he would likely be the favorite. Also in Lamar’s favor is she has more legislative seniority than Harris, who is serving his first term.
You might think this is all inside politics. And in a way, it is. But Senate District 33 deserves good representation – which both Lamar and Harris – could provide.