Jerri Green

Jerri Green grew up in Memphis and has three children with her husband, Patrick.¹ She says she has loved reading since childhood and still remembers a Shakespeare professor who taught in iambic pentameter; she took two semesters with him.²

Green studied English and political science at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, then earned her law degree at Georgetown.³ Her legal career began in juvenile public defense in Nashville.¹ She later led Memphis' Community Legal Center, which provides help to people unable to afford an attorney, and worked as a senior adviser and deputy chief of staff to Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris.¹

She won her Memphis City Council seat in 2023 and represents District 2.³ In January 2026, she was appointed Shelby County's interim chief public defender.⁴ In October 2026, she allocated community grant funding to utility assistance and a partnership with Undue Medical Debt designed to eliminate approximately $17 million in qualifying medical bills.⁵

Her campaign calls for expanding Medicaid, eliminating the grocery tax and repealing Tennessee's abortion ban.⁶ She also opposes private school vouchers and proposes more investment in public schools, childcare and paid family leave.⁶ Her Republican opponent is Senator Marsha Blackburn, and they are competing to succeed Bill Lee, who has reached his term limit.⁷ Either major party nominee would become Tennessee's first woman governor.⁸