{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n- None listed in sources.\n\n- Republican candidate for Shelby County Mayor. ([Local Memphis](https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/local/meet-the-candidates-john-deberry-jr-the-former-democrat-running-as-a-republican/522-3e1794d5-9f2a-45ea-ba7e-c95aeedb98be))\n- Officially announced his candidacy on February 12, 2026, after filing a petition. ([Local Memphis](https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/local/meet-the-candidates-john-deberry-jr-the-former-democrat-running-as-a-republican/522-3e1794d5-9f2a-45ea-ba7e-c95aeedb98be))\n- Received the full support of the Republican Party of Shelby County. ([Local Memphis](https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/local/meet-the-candidates-john-deberry-jr-the-former-democrat-running-as-a-republican/522-3e1794d5-9f2a-45ea-ba7e-c95aeedb98be))\n- Previously considered running for Tennessee governor, traveling the state to gauge support before being asked by Shelby County GOP leaders to run for mayor. ([Daily Memphian](https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/article/60291))\n\n## Background and education\n- Graduate of Freed-Hardeman University. ([Local Memphis](https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/local/meet-the-candidates-john-deberry-jr-the-former-democrat-running-as-a-republican/522-3e1794d5-9f2a-45ea-ba7e-c95aeedb98be))\n- Graduate of the University of Memphis. ([Local Memphis](https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/local/meet-the-candidates-john-deberry-jr-the-former-democrat-running-as-a-republican/522-3e1794d5-9f2a-45ea-ba7e-c95aeedb98be))\n\n## Office history\n- Served in the Tennessee State House representing District 90 for more than two decades, from the 99th through 107th General Assemblies. ([Local Memphis](https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/local/meet-the-candidates-john-deberry-jr-the-former-democrat-running-as-a-republican/522-3e1794d5-9f2a-45ea-ba7e-c95aeedb98be))\n- Served as a committee chairman for 12 years. ([Local Memphis](https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/local/meet-the-candidates-john-deberry-jr-the-former-democrat-running-as-a-republican/522-3e1794d5-9f2a-45ea-ba7e-c95aeedb98be))\n- Appointed senior advisor to Governor Bill Lee in November 2020; stepped down from this role to focus on his mayoral campaign. ([Local Memphis](https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/local/meet-the-candidates-john-deberry-jr-the-former-democrat-running-as-a-republican/522-3e1794d5-9f2a-45ea-ba7e-c95aeedb98be))\n\n- Previously served as a Democrat. ([Local Memphis](https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/local/meet-the-candidates-john-deberry-jr-the-former-democrat-running-as-a-republican/522-3e1794d5-9f2a-45ea-ba7e-c95aeedb98be))\n- Was removed from the Democratic Party ballot in 2020 by the Tennessee Democratic Party's executive committee; ran as an independent but lost to Torey Harris. ([Local Memphis](https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/local/meet-the-candidates-john-deberry-jr-the-former-democrat-running-as-a-republican/522-3e1794d5-9f2a-45ea-ba7e-c95aeedb98be))\n- Known for voting against his former party on issues including abortion, school choice, and a controversial school voucher bill in 2020. ([Local Memphis](https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/local/meet-the-candidates-john-deberry-jr-the-former-democrat-running-as-a-republican/522-3e1794d5-9f2a-45ea-ba7e-c95aeedb98be))\n- Gained national attention in 2018 for introducing a bill to ban fraternities and sororities on Tennessee college campuses. ([Local Memphis](https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/local/meet-the-candidates-john-deberry-jr-the-former-democrat-running-as-a-republican/522-3e1794d5-9f2a-45ea-ba7e-c95aeedb98be))\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n- **2026** \u2014 [County Mayor (SS-8005)](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/view_form_8005.htm?name=DEBERRY, JR.&id=10628&f=199880&v=1) \u2014 filed as a Shelby County official/candidate\n- **2025** \u2014 [Member-Governors Cabinet (SS-8004)](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/view_form_8004.htm?name=DEBERRY, JR.&id=10628&f=189792&v=1) \u2014 filed as a state official/candidate\n- **2024** \u2014 [Member-Governors Cabinet (SS-8004)](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/view_form_8004.htm?name=DEBERRY, JR.&id=10628&f=180063&v=1) \u2014 filed as a state official/candidate\n\n*Source: [Tennessee Ethics Commission Statement of Interest Search](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/search.htm). Scraped 2026-04-25.*\n\n## Family\n- Wife Maria. ([Local Memphis](https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/local/meet-the-candidates-john-deberry-jr-the-former-democrat-running-as-a-republican/522-3e1794d5-9f2a-45ea-ba7e-c95aeedb98be))\n\n- Described as a pastor. ([Local Memphis](https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/local/meet-the-candidates-john-deberry-jr-the-former-democrat-running-as-a-republican/522-3e1794d5-9f2a-45ea-ba7e-c95aeedb98be))\n- Age 75 as of February 2026. ([Local Memphis](https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/local/meet-the-candidates-john-deberry-jr-the-former-democrat-running-as-a-republican/522-3e1794d5-9f2a-45ea-ba7e-c95aeedb98be))\n- Has a history with the Civil Rights Movement, stating he marched with his father alongside Dr. King, and has met with civil rights icon Jesse Jackson. ([Local Memphis](https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/local/meet-the-candidates-john-deberry-jr-the-former-democrat-running-as-a-republican/522-3e1794d5-9f2a-45ea-ba7e-c95aeedb98be))\n\n\n\n---\n*Compiled from publicly available web sources on 2026-04-18.*\n","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_mayor","county":"shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"tn","title":"County Mayor"},{"contest":"county_mayor","county":"shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"primary","state":"TN","title":"County Mayor"}],"cf_filings":[{"county":"shelby","displayname":"Deberry, John","documents":[{"datesubmitted":"04/29/26","documentid":"C7E8EEB1-6B9A-41D3-BABB-7DF6CB2A2550","documentname":"Deberry, John - CFD - 1st Quarter 2026 AMENDED","documentnameid":["C7E8EEB1-6B9A-41D3-BABB-7DF6CB2A2550","Deberry, John - CFD - 1st Quarter 2026 AMENDED"],"documenttype":"2026 CFD","electionname":null},{"datesubmitted":"04/28/26","documentid":"6BDAFABD-1674-4C2E-8023-33A2D5BFF80E","documentname":"Deberry, John - CFD - Pre-Primary 2026","documentnameid":["6BDAFABD-1674-4C2E-8023-33A2D5BFF80E","Deberry, John - CFD - Pre-Primary 2026"],"documenttype":"2026 CFD","electionname":null},{"datesubmitted":"04/10/26","documentid":"9EA02348-FF59-4A17-923F-3DF9E65E2C27","documentname":"Deberry, Jr., John J. -  CFD - 1st Quarter 2026","documentnameid":["9EA02348-FF59-4A17-923F-3DF9E65E2C27","Deberry, Jr., John J. -  CFD - 1st Quarter 2026"],"documenttype":"2026 CFD","electionname":null},{"datesubmitted":"02/26/26","documentid":"363B6060-4997-4809-9997-49C6DE897DFD","documentname":"Deberry, John - Appointment of Treasurer 2026.pdf","documentnameid":["363B6060-4997-4809-9997-49C6DE897DFD","Deberry, John - Appointment of Treasurer 2026.pdf"],"documenttype":"Appointment of Treasurer","electionname":null}],"filertype":"Candidate","officename":"Shelby County Mayor","source_customer_id":"EE6EBC62-7B7C-432F-869E-4DE111271E07","source_filer_id":"3EA16368-2E72-47CA-AEDD-5450E9AAD6F1","source_system":"easyvote","state":"TN","status":"Active"}],"firstname":"John","fullname":"John J. Deberry Jr","lastname":"Deberry","middlename":"J.","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_mayor","contest_title":"County Mayor","county":"shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":"Shelby","office_key":"county_mayor","office_title":"County Mayor","party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"tn"},{"contest":"county_mayor","contest_title":"County Mayor","county":"shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-05-05","office_county":"Shelby","office_key":"county_mayor","office_title":"County Mayor","party":"R","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"}],"county":"shelby","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_mayor","contest_title":"County Mayor","county":"shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":"Shelby","office_key":"county_mayor","office_title":"County Mayor","party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"tn"},"party":"R","primary":{"contest":"county_mayor","contest_title":"County Mayor","county":"shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-05-05","office_county":"Shelby","office_key":"county_mayor","office_title":"County Mayor","party":"R","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"},"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_mayor","office_title":"County Mayor","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"suffix":"Jr","terms":[],"token":"LJiZrt6ock"}