Justin Pearson wins Tennessee Democratic House primary in district reshaped by GOP  

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Justin Pearson won the Democratic primary for Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District on Thursday. The win secures a decisive victory in a district dramatically reshaped by Republican redistricting. Pearson, a Memphis state representative and member of the “Tennessee Three,” defeated state Sen. London Lamar, community activist Marion LaTroy Alexandria‑Williams and attorney Jim Torino.

Justin Pearson Advances in Democratic Primary in Tougher District

Pearson captured 65.8% of the vote, according to the Associated Press. Lamar earned 24.2%, Alexandria‑Williams received 6.8%, and Torino finished with 3.2%.

The 31‑year‑old lawmaker rose to national prominence in 2023 after he and fellow Democrat Justin Jones were expelled from the Tennessee House for leading a gun‑reform protest following the Covenant School shooting in Nashville. Both were reinstated shortly afterward.

A District Redrawn to Favor Republicans

Tennessee Republicans redrew the state’s congressional map after a Supreme Court ruling weakened parts of the Voting Rights Act. The once Memphis‑centered district, previously majority‑Black and reliably Democratic, now stretches roughly 200 miles across rural Tennessee. The new boundaries heavily favor Republicans and dilute Black voting power.

Pearson acknowledged the challenge, calling the redistricting a “blatant attempt to keep people like us out of power.” He warned supporters that political dilution was happening “in our lifetime” but said his victory moved them “one step closer to Washington, D.C.”

Pearson will face Republican state Sen. Brent Taylor in November. Taylor, endorsed by President Donald Trump, has significantly outspent his Democratic rivals. He enters the general election with a strong fundraising advantage.

The race is expected to test whether a progressive Democrat can compete in a district engineered to give Republicans control of all nine Tennessee congressional seats after the 2026 midterms.