Carnita Atwater
Memphis community advocate
Carnita Atwater ran in the August 6 Democratic primary and received 17.9% of the vote (63,254 votes), 51.2 points behind Jerri Green, who won the nomination with 69.0%. Results are complete but unofficial until county election commissions certify them by August 24, 2026.
Primary results, county by county →Memphis, Shelby
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About
Memphis community advocate, museum president, and 2022 Democratic gubernatorial candidate (third place). Also ran for Memphis mayor in 2023. Career spans healthcare and higher-ed administration; currently leads the African American International Museum Foundation.
Has spoken broadly about improving education and addressing disparities but has not articulated specific positions on vouchers, teacher pay, or funding reform.
What Atwater brings to the race
Atwater finished behind Jerri Green in the August 6 Democratic primary. She previously placed third in the 2022 Democratic gubernatorial primary and ran for Memphis mayor in 2023.
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This tracker is produced by The Tennessee Firefly, an independent, nonpartisan news outlet covering education and government in Tennessee. We don't endorse candidates. We don't take political ads. We follow the money, the policy, and the people who shape your kids' schools. All data comes from official filings, verified reporting, and on-the-record sources, with freshness timestamps visible on every page that surfaces live data.