All articles tagged with #justin pearson
Justin Pearson, a member of the so-called 'Tennessee Three' backed by the Squad, won the Democratic primary in Tennessee’s newly redrawn 9th District and will face Republican Brent Taylor in November; Pearson entered with a sizable fundraising lead as Memphis was carved into three GOP-leaning districts amid the redistricting, with the broader map-shift shaping Tennessee’s House contests.
In Tennessee, Democratic candidate Justin Pearson is challenging incumbent Steve Cohen, focusing on opposition to AI data centers powered by fossil fuels due to environmental concerns, highlighting the growing political debate over the environmental impact of AI infrastructure in the 2026 midterms and beyond.
Justin Pearson, a member of the Tennessee Three known for his expulsion and reinstatement after a gun control protest, is challenging long-time Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen in a primary, supported by Justice Democrats, as part of a broader effort to introduce younger, more progressive voices into Congress amid generational and ideological shifts.
Tennessee state Rep. Justin Pearson, known for protesting gun violence, announced a primary challenge against longtime Rep. Steve Cohen in Memphis's 9th District, supported by progressive groups seeking new leadership and addressing local issues like poverty and housing. Cohen, a veteran legislator, faces a rising young Democrat amid calls for change from party groups and community advocates.
Justin Pearson, a young Memphis lawmaker known for his activism and part of the Tennessee Three, has launched a primary challenge against incumbent Democratic Congressman Steve Cohen, advocating for generational change and progressive policies, supported by groups aiming to challenge established Democratic incumbents in safe seats.
Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton may face legal consequences after a physical altercation with Democratic State Rep. Justin J. Pearson during a heated exchange in the Tennessee General Assembly. The confrontation, caught on video, occurred as Pearson confronted Sexton about the lack of gun control legislation. The incident occurred amidst a special legislative session addressing gun control following a school shooting. Pearson is considering pressing charges, while Sexton claims he was bumped by Pearson's security.
Tennessee Reps. Justin Pearson and Justin Jones, who were expelled earlier this year for their gun control protest on the House floor, have advanced past an election hurdle. Pearson defeated his Democratic opponent in his Memphis district and Jones was unopposed in his Nashville seat. Both lawmakers will face Republican opponents in the Aug. 3 general election. Pearson and Jones were reinstated by local officials days after their expulsion and have since gained national prominence. They have been vocal advocates for gun control and have pushed for a variety of gun control changes beyond what Republican Gov. Bill Lee has proposed.
Oprah Winfrey delivered a keynote address at Tennessee State University's graduation ceremony, encouraging graduates to listen to their hearts and make a difference in the world. She also praised Tennessee State Representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, who were expelled from the state legislature for leading a gun-reform protest, but have since been reinstated. Winfrey's philanthropy work in Nashville includes a $2 million donation for food relief to 10,000 local households.
Justin Pearson, a Tennessee state representative who was expelled from the legislature for leading a gun protest on the House floor, has been reappointed and sworn back in. Pearson was appointed to his vacated seat by the county legislature that includes his Memphis district. He had previously been appointed to the seat in January and won a special election in March. Pearson and his colleague, Justin Jones, who was also expelled, plan to run in special elections. The demonstration was prompted by a school shooting in Nashville in which seven people were killed.
Fox News host Tucker Carlson launched a bigoted attack on Tennessee state Rep. Justin Pearson, who was recently reappointed to his seat in the state legislature. Carlson mocked Pearson's speaking voice and implied that he speaks like a "sharecropper." He also referred to Pearson's transition from a "crypto-white kid" to a civil rights leader and accused him of running a "shakedown racket to fleece guilty white liberals." Carlson's comments have been widely criticized as racist and offensive.
Justin Pearson has been reappointed to the Tennessee House of Representatives by Shelby County Commission, less than a week after he and Rep. Justin Jones were expelled from their seats for leading gun-reform chants that briefly disrupted House proceedings. Pearson and Jones were among the youngest Black lawmakers in Tennessee. Pearson plans to continue the fight for gun reform and other issues important to Shelby County residents.
Memphis County officials voted unanimously to reappoint Justin Pearson to the Tennessee House of Representatives, less than a week after he was expelled along with another Black Democratic lawmaker for participating in a protest against gun violence. Pearson addressed the commissioners and supporters who assembled at the meeting, saying "You can't expel hope. You can't expel love. You can't expel our voice. And you sure can't expel our fight." Pearson and Jones were reappointed by the Shelby County Board of Commissioners and Nashville's Metro Council, respectively.
Justin Pearson, one of two Black Democrats expelled from the Republican-led Tennessee House for supporting gun control protesters, could return to the Legislature after a Memphis commission vote. Republicans banished Pearson and Rep. Justin Jones last week over their role in a gun control protest on the House floor after a Nashville school shooting that left six dead. The expulsions drew accusations of racism, and the Tennessee Democratic Party received a new jolt of support from across the U.S. Pearson grew up in the same House district he was chosen to represent after longtime state Rep. Barbara Cooper, a Black Democrat, died in office.
Former Tennessee state Democratic Rep. Justin Pearson is facing criticism from conservatives for altering his voice and mannerisms while speaking publicly, which was made evident in unearthed footage from an election he took part in nearly a decade ago at Maine's Bowdoin College. Pearson, who represented Tennessee's 86th District in the state House, was one of three lawmakers, along with Democrat Reps. Gloria Johnson and Justin Jones, who riled up gun control protesters and took to the House floor to call on their colleagues to take action against gun violence last month. Amid his expulsion from the state House, Pearson delivered an impassioned and lengthy speech about the actions of his Republican counterparts and the state's inaction on gun control.
The Nashville Metropolitan Council is expected to consider reinstating ousted legislator Justin Jones, who was expelled from the Tennessee state Legislature along with Justin Pearson last week. The two young Black lawmakers were expelled after breaking House rules and using a bullhorn when they were not recognized to speak. Democrats in Washington have rallied around Jones and Pearson since their expulsion, and Black Nashville residents expressed outrage at the ousting of the two lawmakers, saying it silenced their voices.