Justin Pearson, expelled from the Tennessee House in 2023 after a gun-law protest, has won the Democratic nomination for Tennessee's 9th Congressional District and will face Republican state Senator Brent Taylor, who is endorsed by former President Trump. The 9th District was redrawn after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling weakened parts of the Voting Rights Act and now stretches roughly 200 miles into rural Tennessee, making it more favorable to Republicans. Pearson's national profile and the redistricting fight are likely to shape a high-profile general election contest this November.
After 2023 Expulsion, Justin Pearson Wins Democratic Nomination for Tennessee's 9th District
Photo Credit: Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images
Justin Pearson, the Memphis Democratic state lawmaker who drew national attention after his 2023 expulsion from the Tennessee House, has secured the Democratic nomination for the U.S. House and will be the party's candidate for Tennessee's 9th Congressional District in the November general election.
The General Election Matchup
Pearson will face Republican state Senator Brent Taylor, who has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump. The race is expected to be closely watched given Pearson's national profile and the dramatic changes to the district map.
How Pearson Became A National Figure
In 2023, Pearson and fellow Democratic lawmaker Justin Jones were expelled from the Tennessee House after participating in a floor protest that called for tougher gun-safety laws. The demonstration followed the deadly Nashville school shooting, which left six people dead, including three children. A third Democrat, Gloria Johnson, participated as well but narrowly avoided expulsion.
"It might have to do with the color of our skin," Representative Gloria Johnson said after the expulsions, suggesting race may have been a factor; Republican leaders denied that race played a role.
Following the expulsions, Pearson drew widespread attention and support from across the country. Then-President Joe Biden criticized the removals as "undemocratic," and supporters rallied to back Pearson and Jones.
Redistricting and What It Means
Since Pearson's expulsion, Tennessee Republicans have redrawn the state's congressional map in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that weakened parts of the Voting Rights Act. The 9th District, once centered on Memphis and typically majority-Black and Democratic-leaning, now stretches roughly 200 miles into rural Tennessee and is widely viewed as more favorable to Republican candidates.
The altered geography and demographics of the district will pose a significant challenge for any Democratic candidate. Pearson's campaign will need to balance turning out support in Memphis while appealing to voters across a much larger and more rural district.
What’s next: With the primary behind him, Pearson heads into a November campaign that will test whether his national profile and grassroots support can overcome a newly configured, more conservative district and a Trump-endorsed opponent.
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