Nashville elections 2023: Metro Council at

Jul 11, 2023

Just one candidate got enough votes to win one of the five at-large seats on Nashville's Metro Council after the votes were tallied Thursday night: incumbent Zulfat "Z" Suara.

Suara has served as an At-large Metro Council member since 2019.

With just one seat filled after the general election, the eight candidates who received the most votes behind Suara will move to a runoff election on Sept. 14 to fill the remaining four seats.

The following candidates will be on the runoff ballot. They are listed here in order of votes received:

All other candidates have been eliminated from the race.

Election results:Vote totals for mayor, vice mayor and council races

Because voters select five candidates for at-large on their ballots, candidates must receive at least 10% of the votes cast for all candidates to be elected to an at-large seat. Suara received 10.7% of all at-large votes cast.

The Metro Council is made up of 40 members, 35 of which represent individual districts and five at-large members who are elected countywide and represent all of Nashville.

At-large council members have the ability to introduce legislation just as district council members do, but do not share district council members' responsibility for carrying zoning bills within their respective districts. At-large members can introduce zoning bills in any district, and can fill in for district council members as needed if conflicts or absences arise.

The at-large race drew a large field, with 21 candidates tossing their hat in the ring. Suara and Allen were the only incumbent At-large Metro Council members who ran for reelection, with district Metro Council members Porterfield, Pulley and Syracuse also in the race.

Suara had a career in accounting before pursuing elected office. She is currently the chair of the American Muslim Advisory Council and treasurer of the National Women's Political Caucus, among other volunteer positions. Her priorities include full funding for education, support for community-based budgeting programs, increasing affordable housing and advocating for livable wages for Nashville residents.

Maddy Welsh and Cassandra Stephenson contributed to this story.

Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for The Tennessean. Contact him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @EvanMealins.