Abacus Strategic Partners

Abacus Strategic Partners Want to make digital marketing work for you? It takes a strategy tailored to your business. We deliver high quality customers for any business.

Data-driven digital marketing that targets your most profitable customer.

Many longtime Memphians will remember the legendary Robert "Prince Mongo" Hodges, a man who spent decades running for ju...
05/31/2026

Many longtime Memphians will remember the legendary Robert "Prince Mongo" Hodges, a man who spent decades running for just about every office that had a ballot and a pulse.

Well, today I spotted Prince Mongo in the wild... cruising the produce section like a seasoned statesman inspecting his kingdom's cucumber supply.

And it got me thinking...

Have Memphis politics become so strange that Prince Mongo is now the most normal candidate we could put on the ballot?

At this point, a platform based on free parking for UFOs, mandatory monkey butlers, and diplomatic relations with extraterrestrials doesn't sound nearly as crazy as it did twenty years ago.

So what do y'all think? Is it time to bring Mongo back?

Because if the produce aisle is where future leaders are being recruited, I may have just witnessed the beginning of Memphis' next political comeback tour...

Of course, this post is . But if you're running for office in Memphis or Shelby County, our platform delivers precise voter targeting with virtually no wasted ad spend and a voter-lift turnout guarantee. Reach the right voters, measure the results, and maximize every campaign dollar.

On this Memorial Day, we honor the courage, sacrifice, and legacy of America’s fallen heroes.
05/25/2026

On this Memorial Day, we honor the courage, sacrifice, and legacy of America’s fallen heroes.

Redistricting news after the Supreme Court rulings — states are redrawing the maps again before the 2026 elections Here’...
05/12/2026

Redistricting news after the Supreme Court rulings — states are redrawing the maps again before the 2026 elections
Here’s a simple breakdown of the biggest changes so far:
Republican gains:

Texas: +5 seats
Florida: +3 to +4 seats
Tennessee: +1 seat
A few smaller gains in other states

Democratic gains:

California: +5 seats

What happened in Tennessee’s 9th District?
This was Tennessee’s only Democratic district — a safe seat held by Democrat Steve Cohen in Memphis. After redistricting, they split up most of the Memphis voters and added a lot of Republican areas. The new TN-9 is now +21% Republican-leaning. It’s very likely to flip from Democrat to Republican in 2026.

Polling snapshot:
Right now, polls show Democrats leading the generic ballot by about 5 to 6 points. That’s normal for a midterm year when one party controls the White House. Even with the new maps helping Republicans, most forecasters think Democrats will still gain enough seats to take control of the House.
Bottom line: Republicans get a boost from the new maps (about 6–8 extra seats), but the current political mood suggests they will likely lose a net of 5–12 seats in November.
Politics gonna politics.

What do you think — will the new maps save the Republican majority or will the midterm swing be too strong? Comment below 👇

Shelby County 2026 Ballot Set: 122 Democrats, 19 Republicans, and Some Races Already Decided... Barring any changes, the...
03/04/2026

Shelby County 2026 Ballot Set: 122 Democrats, 19 Republicans, and Some Races Already Decided... Barring any changes, the ballot for the May 2026 primary elections in Shelby County is set. Candidate recruitment has differed significantly between the two major parties. A total of 122 Democratic candidates filed petitions for 35 offices, compared to 19 certified Republican candidates.

The imbalance has resulted in some races being decided without opposition. Shelby County Commissioners Miska Clay Bibbs (District 11) and Charlie Caswell (District 6) will retain their seats after facing no opposition in either the Democratic primary or the August general election.

Former commissioner Mark Billingsley is set to return to represent District 4. No candidates filed for the Republican primary in that race, and Democrats did not field a candidate. District 2 is the only other commission race without a Democratic candidate. Ten commission seats remain contested.

Among incumbents seeking reelection are Commission Chairwoman Shante Knox Avant (District 5), Erika Sugarmon (District 12), and Henri E. Brooks (District 7). Avant faces Memphis Police Department Lt. Milton Bonds Jr. in the Democratic primary. Sugarmon is challenged by Jevonte Cortez Porter, communications director for Youth Villages.

Brooks faces five primary opponents, including Ester Moore, an obvious front runner after the recent Frayser Democrat Club Debate... the Democratic nominee will meet Republican Gerald Green, who is unopposed in his party’s primary.Both parties have candidates competing in open commission races in Districts 1, 3, 7, 8, and 13, all previously held by term-limited officeholders.

The Shelby County mayor’s race includes 11 candidates. Commissioner Mickell Lowery, currently representing District 8, looks like the front runner after the recent Mayor's Forum Debate. Memphis City Council member JB Smiley Jr. has outraised Lowery, reporting $537,000 in campaign funds compared to Lowery’s $487,000 as of late January. The two are the leading fundraisers to date.

Other Democratic candidates in the mayoral primary include Criminal Court Clerk Heidi Kuhn, Property Assessor Melvin Burgess, Chief Administrative Officer Harold Collins, and former Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Marie Feagins. Feagins recently remained on the ballot after state Democratic Party leaders declined a local party effort to remove her. Political newcomer Rusty Qualls is also running; it is Feagins’ first campaign for elected office.

The Republican candidate for mayor is former Tennessee Representative John Deberry.

The race to succeed term-limited Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner has drawn seven Democratic candidates, including Sheriff’s Office Sergeants Keisha Scott and Donald C. Taylor, as well as Chief Deputy , Anthony Buckner for Shelby County Sheriff, the obvious front runner... Many of the candidates have law enforcement backgrounds. Two Republican candidates, both current law enforcement officers, are also competing in their party’s primary.

In the race to succeed term-limited County Clerk Wanda Halbert, several individuals initially pulled petitions, including Halbert herself. Halbert ultimately filed to run for criminal court clerk, where she is one of five candidates seeking to replace Heidi Kuhn.

County Commissioner Michael Whaley is among five Democratic candidates, including Joseph Lee, running to succeed Regina Morrison Newman as county trustee. Other county administrative offices on the ballot include property assessor, juvenile court clerk, probate court clerk, and register of deeds.

Circuit Court Clerk Jamita E. Swearengen is unopposed in both the primary and general election.

The Memphis-Shelby County School Board election calendar has returned to its traditional schedule after a circuit court judge ruled that a prior resolution aligning board elections with county commission elections was unlawful. As a result, six of the 13 board seats — Districts 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, and 9 — will appear on the 2026 primary ballot. Vice Chair Joyce Dorse-Coleman is the only incumbent running in those races and faces four primary challengers. No Republican candidates have filed for the school board seats; two independent candidates are on the ballot.

03/03/2026

The building where Iran's 88-member Assembly of Experts was meeting TODAY to pick a new Supreme Leader after Khamenei's death has been FLATTENED by Israeli strikes.
Reports say the IDF targeted the session in Qom right as these top clerics were gathering to choose Iran's next ruler. The regime's leadership is in TOTAL chaos—some say many were killed or injured, others claim the building was evacuated... but either way, this is a massive blow straight to the heart of the Islamic Republic.
Is this the beginning of the end for the mullahs? Or will it spark even bigger retaliation?
The Middle East is on fire right now—what do YOU think happens next?

Drop your thoughts below 👇
Like + Share if you're following this insane escalation! Who's watching history unfold in real time?

Turmoil in the Republican Party Over “Bona Fide” Status — What’s Happening in Shelby County?There’s a lot of discussion ...
03/01/2026

Turmoil in the Republican Party Over “Bona Fide” Status — What’s Happening in Shelby County?

There’s a lot of discussion about disputes over who qualifies as a “bona fide Republican” in Shelby County and who gets to appear on the GOP ballot. Here are the facts as of February 27, 2026:

➡️ Last election cycle, a group known as Revive 25 publicly advocated for voters to “only vote for bona fide Republicans.” The Republican Party of Shelby County did not keep any candidates off the ballot at that time.

➡️ More recently, several individuals, including Judge Joe Brown, Justin Johnson, and John Covington, have been removed or are no longer listed on the GOP ballot for the May 5, 2026 primary. These changes are due to party enforcement of eligibility rules, which Johnson supported last cycle... you can't have it both ways.

➡️ The debate centers on how party bylaws define “bona fide” Republicans and how those criteria are enforced. This has led to frustration among supporters of Revive 25, who are upset about the recent ballot changes.

It seems that many people are very good at highlighting problems, but less focused on providing solutions.

We want to hear from you: What are your ideas for addressing these disputes in a way that keeps the process fair and transparent? Share your suggestions below — solutions only, please.

#

Hard Landing in California’s Fuel Market...Energy writer Doomberg recently published an analysis titled “Hard Landing,” ...
02/15/2026

Hard Landing in California’s Fuel Market...Energy writer Doomberg recently published an analysis titled “Hard Landing,” examining the growing fuel supply risks in Northern California. Doomberg is the pen name of an anonymous finance and energy analyst known for data-driven commentary on climate policy, markets, and industrial economics. The publication is widely read in energy and investment circles.

The core issue is fuel supply. California’s refining system is relatively isolated. The state operates almost like two separate “fuel islands” — one centered around San Francisco and the other around Los Angeles. There are limited pipeline connections bringing fuel in from other states, and connections between Northern and Southern California are constrained.

The Benicia Refinery Closure
A major turning point is the planned shutdown of the Valero refinery in Benicia, which supplies a significant portion of Northern California’s gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. State officials attempted to negotiate continued operations or a transfer of ownership. While discussions delayed the timeline and led to a phased transition plan, long-term refining operations are not expected to continue.
Doomberg argues that the closure creates ripple effects beyond just one facility. Refineries are complex, interconnected systems. When one goes offline, supply chains can shift quickly and unpredictably. Reduced local refining capacity means:

Greater dependence on imported fuel

Higher transportation costs

Increased vulnerability to supply disruptions

Potential for sharp price spikes

Industry analysts warn that Northern California could face significantly higher fuel prices — potentially reaching double-digit dollars per gallon — if supply disruptions occur during peak demand or emergency conditions.

What’s at Stake
The broader question raised in the piece is whether California’s long-term environmental strategy has outpaced the state’s ability to maintain reliable fuel supplies during the transition to cleaner energy sources. The article suggests that regulatory pressure on refineries over the past decade has accelerated closures, reducing in-state capacity faster than demand has declined.
With legal battles unfolding at the federal level and refinery capacity shrinking at the state level, Northern California motorists may soon feel the impact directly at the pump.
The situation remains fluid, but as Doomberg’s analysis emphasizes, energy systems do not change overnight — and disruptions in complex supply chains often arrive faster than policymakers expect.

The U.S. presidential limousine has evolved significantly over more than a century of service. Early presidential vehicl...
02/07/2026

The U.S. presidential limousine has evolved significantly over more than a century of service. Early presidential vehicles were custom or modified luxury cars; for much of the mid-20th century, Lincoln and other Ford Motor Company–based limousines served the White House. A notable shift began in the 1980s: in 1983, a Cadillac Fleetwood replaced the long tradition of Lincoln Continentals and Town Cars as the official state car.

The modern era of presidential limousines—a vehicle now commonly nicknamed “The Beast”—dates from the early 2000s. The version first widely associated with that name was custom-built by General Motors for President George W. Bush and introduced in 2001.

Since 2009, the presidential state car has been a purpose-built Cadillac limousine engineered to the specific requirements of the U.S. Secret Service rather than a standard production sedan. The current limousine, used since about 2018, is visually Cadillac-branded but built on a heavy-duty platform similar to GMC’s medium-duty truck chassis (often compared to the GMC TopKick class), capable of supporting the extensive armor, security systems, and specialized equipment that define the vehicle.

Today’s presidential limo is estimated to weigh well over 15,000 pounds and includes layered armor, bullet-resistant glass, reinforced tires, and integrated communications systems—making it more a mobile command center than a traditional automobile.

Office Real Estate Loan Trouble Hits a Record High... New data shows that loans tied to office buildings are now failing...
02/04/2026

Office Real Estate Loan Trouble Hits a Record High... New data shows that loans tied to office buildings are now failing at the highest rate ever recorded. In January, 12.3% of office-related commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) were delinquent, meaning payments were late or not being made. This is worse than the peak of the 2008 financial crisis.

The biggest problems are coming from large office buildings, especially older ones in major cities like New York. Many of these buildings are struggling because they have high vacancy rates. Companies are using less office space, moving to newer buildings, or allowing more remote work, which reduces rental income.

With less money coming in, some building owners can’t keep up with their loan payments. In several cases, properties are heading toward foreclosure.

This doesn’t mean the entire economy is collapsing, but it does show serious stress in the office real estate...

and political campaigns... Did you know that according to the latest Pew Research Center survey from 2024, about 30% o...
01/29/2026

and political campaigns... Did you know that according to the latest Pew Research Center survey from 2024, about 30% of American adults do not use Facebook? This figure comes from data collected between February and June 2024, showing that while 70% of U.S. adults report ever using the platform, a consistent minority opts out entirely.
This non-user group tends to skew toward certain demographics. For instance, men are more likely to avoid Facebook than women (with usage rates around 61% for men versus 78% for women). Usage also varies by age, with younger adults (18-29) reporting slightly lower adoption at 68%, potentially due to preferences for platforms like Instagram or TikTok. Additionally, those with lower household incomes (under $30,000) show reduced usage compared to higher-income brackets, where adoption can reach 75% or more. Education levels play a role too, though detailed breakdowns suggest broader access among those with higher formal education.
As for why this 30% stays away, common reasons include privacy and trust concerns with personal information, which affect a significant portion of potential users. Many cite a lack of interest in the content, feeling it's banal or overloaded with irrelevant information. Others point to time consumption and addiction risks, preferring not to engage to maintain productivity. Dissatisfaction with Facebook's business practices, such as manipulative algorithms and the spread of misinformation, also drives avoidance. Some simply favor alternative platforms or have shifted social circles, finding little ongoing benefit in Facebook. Recent surveys from 2025 echo these sentiments, with 45% of respondents feeling the platform has lost its purpose and 42% no longer finding it appealing.
In an era of evolving social media landscapes, it's interesting to see how preferences are shifting. What about you—do these reasons resonate, or are you still active on here?

Address

1331 Union Avenue Suite 1000
Memphis, TN
38104

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+18882470989

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Abacus Strategic Partners posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Abacus Strategic Partners:

Shortcuts

Share

Category