Councilmember Sharon Hurt considers run for Nashville mayor

Metro Councilmember Sharon Hurt tells Axios she has compiled a team in advance of a potential 2023 Nashville mayoral run.

State of play: While Mayor John Cooper has not officially announced his intention to seek reelection, Councilmember Freddie O'Connell and former Metro official Matt Wiltshire have already entered the race.

• Nonprofit executive Hal Cato and businessperson Jim Gingrich are considered likely to run as well.

The big picture: Hurt, who is Black, would be the only established minority candidate if she enters the race and Nashville's first Black mayor if she won.

• She has a track record of winning countywide elections, notching victories in the 2015 and 2019 at-large council races.
• Nashville's last three mayors were former at-large council members.

Yes, but: Hurt will have to up her fundraising game in order to win. Some of the challengers have the ability to significantly finance their own campaigns.