← Back to Shelby County, Tennessee: Election on 2026-08-06
Contest for Tennessee Senate District 33
primary - Partisan - State Senator
About this office
The Tennessee Senate is the upper chamber of the state legislature, with 33 members elected from single-member districts to four-year terms. Senators pass state laws, approve the state budget, confirm certain gubernatorial appointments, and — with the House — propose constitutional amendments.
Term length: 4 years.
This role calls for
- Integrity — Acts in the interest of constituents and the public good rather than for personal gain, and remains independent of undue influence from donors, lobbyists, and party leadership.
- Understanding of the constituency — Grasps both the economic-development needs of the district and the day-to-day concerns of individual residents — safety, healthcare, education, infrastructure.
- Persuasion — Engages, listens to, and persuades both fellow legislators and constituents. Can change minds and explain votes honestly.
- Legislative craft — Reads, drafts, and amends statute with care. Understands how specific bill language translates to outcomes, and knows the body of law being modified.
- Coalition-building — Finds common ground across partisan and factional lines, brokers compromises that hold, and forms working majorities even when consensus is hard to reach.
Derived from the office's statutory duties and operational reality. Candidate summaries below map each candidate's documented experience to these requirements.
Campaigns
Democratic Primary
2 candidates
Lamar served in both chambers of the Tennessee General Assembly, including the Senate during the 112th and 113th sessions. Her committee assignments on Finance, Ways and Means and Judiciary provide direct exposure to budget literacy and policy judgment on criminal justice matters. As House Democratic Caucus Secretary, she gained experience with legislative process mechanics and floor operations. This dual-chamber tenure supports constituent relations across Shelby County’s roughly 200,000 residents. Bio does not indicate specific statutory training or detailed coordination strategies with county officials.
Tamika L. Abrum's biography shows experience as a community activist and former Memphis-Shelby County Schools board member, demonstrating engagement with education policy and constituent concerns regarding district accountability. However, records indicate a legal dispute involving mutual harassment accusations and a temporary restraining order filed against her by a fellow board member. Bio does not indicate legislative craft or coalition-building experience.
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