MEMPHIS, Tenn. : State Representative Justin J. Pearson, a prominent civil rights activist who gained national fame as part of the “Tennessee Three,” won the Democratic primary on Thursday for Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District. Pearson scored a decisive victory over state Senator London Lamar and two other primary challengers, setting up a high-stakes November general election match-up against Republican state Senator Brent Taylor in a radically transformed seat.
The Associated Press officially called the primary contest for Pearson at 7:36 p.m. CST, with Pearson securing roughly 64.9% of the vote compared to Lamar’s 24.9%.
“This victory belongs to the people who refuse to let their voices be silenced,” Pearson said during his election night address in Memphis. “Whether they change the maps or change the rules, our movement for justice, economic equity, and real community safety continues.”
From the “Tennessee Three” to Capitol Hill Nominee
Pearson first captured national attention in early 2023 when he and fellow Representative Justin Jones were expelled from the Republican-led Tennessee House of Representatives. The pair, along with Representative Gloria Johnson, had led a gun control protest on the House floor following the tragic Covenant School shooting in Nashville.
Memphis officials quickly reappointed Pearson, and local voters overwhelmingly reelected him in a special election months later. Since returning to the state legislature, Pearson built a high-profile progressive platform focusing on environmental justice, gun violence prevention, and expanded healthcare access.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ TENNESSEE 9TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ • Primary Winner: Rep. Justin J. Pearson (64.9%) │
│ • Runner-Up: Sen. London Lamar (24.9%) │
│ • Other Contenders: Jim Torino, M. LaTroy A-Williams │
│ • GOP Nominee: Sen. Brent Taylor (Trump-Endorsed) │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Mid-Decade Redistricting Upends Memphis Politics
The 9th Congressional District primary unfolded under extraordinary circumstances following a controversial mid-decade redistricting overhaul passed by Tennessee lawmakers.
Following recent Supreme Court rulings that narrowed protections under the Voting Rights Act, Tennessee Republicans redrew the state’s congressional boundaries. The 9th District, historically an urban, majority-Black seat centered strictly around Memphis and long held by retiring Democratic Representative Steve Cohen, was cracked apart. The redrawn district now stretches approximately 200 miles east from Shelby County across rural, heavily conservative counties.
| Key District Changes | Historical 9th District | Redrawn 9th District (2026) |
| Geographic Footprint | Compact urban Memphis / Shelby County | Memphis extended 200 miles east across rural TN |
| Demographic Base | Majority-Black, urban Democratic stronghold | Split rural/suburban base with diluted urban core |
| Political Lean | Solidly Democratic | R+21 (Trump +21 margin in redrawn boundaries) |
Longtime incumbent Rep. Steve Cohen opted against seeking reelection under the new boundaries. While Cohen endorsed London Lamar in the primary, Pearson garnered strong national progressive endorsements from political figures including Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
High-Stakes General Election Battles Ahead
Pearson’s primary victory sets up an uphill battle in November against GOP nominee Brent Taylor. Backed by President Donald Trump, Taylor won the Republican nomination on Thursday, aiming to complete a GOP sweep of all nine Tennessee congressional seats.
Despite the challenging mathematical tilt of the newly drawn district, national progressives view Pearson’s grassroots organization as a critical test of whether voter turnout in Memphis can overcome rural conservative gains.
