Nashville vice mayor's race heats up with two candidates entering the race
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The 2027 vice mayor's race is starting to take shape in Nashville with two top contenders announcing they intend to run for Metro government's No. 2 job next year.
Driving the news: Metro Councilmember Zulfat Suara confirms to Axios her intention to run.
- Suara is a term-limited, at-large council member, who represents all of Davidson County.
- District 2 Metro Councilmember Kyonzté Toombs, who is also term-limited for her seat representing Bordeaux and portions of North Nashville, announced on social media over the weekend she is running for vice mayor as well.
Zoom out: Considering her track record of winning countywide races, Suara will be considered a formidable challenger.
- Both Suara and Toombs have reputations for collaborating with the business community and progressive activist groups.
Friction point: Incumbent Vice Mayor Angie Henderson says she has not made up her mind yet to run for reelection, because she's waiting on the Tennessee Supreme Court's ruling in the lawsuit over the size of the Metro Council.
- Henderson proved herself to be a hard-nosed campaigner. A former district council member, she's never lost an election.
- "I have run three successful campaigns, so if I choose to run, I do not intend to lose," she says.
Between the lines: The job consists of running Metro Council meetings, appointing committee assignments and overseeing the council office.
- The vice mayor is also first in line to succeed the mayor if necessary.
Flashback: Nashville has seen turnover in the vice mayor role since 2015. David Briley won the election that year, then was elevated to mayor after Megan Barry resigned.
- Jim Shulman won the 2019 vice mayor's race, but was unseated in 2023 by Henderson.