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Joe Towns Jr.
Office history
Current office and 2026 campaign
Joe Towns Jr. has represented Tennessee House District 84 (Memphis, southern Shelby County) since 1995 1. In the 2026 cycle he is separately seeking Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk: he won the May 5, 2026 Democratic primary for that office, narrowly defeating incumbent Clerk Wanda Halbert by 121 votes - 19,329 to 19,208, each roughly 27.5% of a five-candidate field 23. Towns advances to the August 6, 2026 general election for Criminal Court Clerk against Republican Edquardo Jamison 3. Separately, Shelby County Election Commission petition-filing records show Towns also qualified as a Democratic primary candidate for his existing House District 84 seat, for the August 6, 2026 state primary 4. The two candidacies are distinct races (a county general election and a state legislative primary) that happen to fall on the same date.
Background and education
Towns was born May 4 in Memphis. He holds a B.A. in political science from LeMoyne-Owen College and an M.S. in operational management from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He is a member of Mississippi Boulevard Church 1.
Career
Towns describes himself in his official legislative biography as a "Business/Entrepreneur and Former College Instructor" who operates a management, consulting, and entertainment company 1.
Legislative record and accomplishments
First elected to the House in 1994, Towns has sponsored legislation aimed at reviving the Tennessee Horse Racing Commission and bringing horse racing back to Memphis, framed as a way to "keep gambling dollars from slipping out of Shelby County" 5.
Sources
Public filings
Candidates and officeholders are required by law to file campaign finance reports and statements of economic interest. The sites below don't support direct links to an individual record — search by last name on each.
Tennessee — Shelby County campaign finance (Criminal Court Clerk)
- Towns, Joe - Appointment of Treasurer 2026 — filed 04/10/26
Tennessee — campaign finance (search)
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State offices (Governor, TN Senate, TN House, State Executive Committee, statewide judiciary) —
Tennessee Registry of Election Finance.
Click Search for Candidates and PACs, enter last name “Towns”, and submit.
US House, US Senate, and Presidential candidates file with the FEC — see the federal section below.
Tennessee — statement of interest
- Required for state and local officials and candidates — Tennessee Ethics Commission Conflict of Interest Search. Enter last name “Towns”and, if needed, select the applicable position.