{"biography":"Justin Jamal Pearson (born January 7, 1995) is a Democratic politician and activist from Memphis, Tennessee, currently serving in the Tennessee House of Representatives [4]. He represents District 86, which covers parts of Memphis and Shelby County [22]. Pearson assumed office on April 12, 2023, after being appointed by the Shelby County Commission following his expulsion from the state House earlier that year [4]. His current term ends on November 3, 2026 [1].\n\nPearson is running in the August 6, 2026, Democratic primary for Tennessee\u2019s 9th Congressional District, challenging incumbent U.S. Representative Steve Cohen [1][37]. He is also seeking re-election to his seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 86 in the same primary [1].\n\nEarly Life and Education\nPearson was born in Memphis to Dr. Kimberly Owens-Pearson, a teacher, and Rev. Jason C. Pearson, Sr., a preacher [4][6]. He grew up in poverty as one of five sons [6]. At age 11, his family moved to the Washington, D.C. area while his father pursued a master's degree at Howard University; they returned to Memphis four years later [4]. Pearson graduated as valedictorian from Mitchell High School in Memphis [4][7]. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Government & Legal Studies with a minor in Education Studies from Bowdoin College in 2017, where he was a Mellon Mays fellow and attended the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs summer institute [4].\n\nActivism and Career\nBefore entering elected office, Pearson worked as a community organizer [1]. In 2020, he co-founded Memphis Community Against the Pipeline (MCAP), an environmental advocacy group that successfully stopped the construction of the Byhalia Pipeline, which would have passed through south Memphis neighborhoods and over the Memphis sand aquifer [4][6]. He has also organized against Sterilization Services of Tennessee for fugitive emissions and opposed an xAI data center project in his district [6].\n\nTennessee House of Representatives\nPearson first entered the Tennessee House in January 2023 via a special election to succeed Barbara Cooper, who died in office [1][4]. He was sworn in at age 28, becoming one of the youngest lawmakers in the state\u2019s history [4].\n\nIn March 2023, following the Covenant School shooting in Nashville, Pearson joined Representatives Justin Jones and Gloria Johnson on the House floor to lead a protest for gun control legislation using a bullhorn [15][35]. On April 6, 2023, the Tennessee House voted 69-26 to expel Pearson and Jones for violating decorum rules; Johnson survived expulsion by one vote [1][4]. The expulsions drew national attention and accusations of racism, as the two expelled members were Black while Johnson was white [35].\n\nOn April 12, 2023, the Shelby County Commission voted unanimously (7-0) to reinstate Pearson to his seat as an interim representative [15][33]. He served in this capacity until winning a special general election on June 15, 2023, where he received 1,930 votes against independent candidate Jeff Johnston\u2019s 136 votes [22].\n\nLegislative Record and Controversies\nPearson has sponsored legislation focused on gun violence prevention, claiming to have written the most such bills in the 113th General Assembly [7]. He has also led efforts to address voter registration issues, highlighting that approximately 25% of Shelby County voters were listed as \"inactive\" in 2026 [13].\n\nThe 2023 expulsion remains a defining event in his career. Pearson described the expulsion as an attempt by the Republican supermajority to silence democracy and stated, \"You can't expel hope\" [33][35]. The special elections required to fill his seat cost the state approximately $400,000 [22].\n\nFamily\nPearson married Oceana Gilliam in July 2025 [6]. He has two dogs named Starrie and Curly [6]. His father is a preacher who leads the Church of the River in Memphis [33][6].\n\n## Sources\n\n[1] [Justin Pearson (Tennessee) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Justin_Pearson_(Tennessee))\n[4] [Justin J. Pearson - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_J._Pearson)\n[5] [Justin J. Pearson for U.S. Congress](https://www.votejustinj.com/)\n[6] [About Justin \u2014 Justin J. Pearson for U.S. Congress](https://www.votejustinj.com/about-2)\n[7] [Issues | Join Justin for Congress\u2014Get Involved Today \u2014 Justin J. Pearson for U.S. Congress](https://www.votejustinj.com/issues)\n[10] [Shelby Co. Commission reinstates Justin Pearson to Tenn. House; Hundreds march in support of his return](https://www.actionnews5.com/2023/04/12/shelby-co-commission-set-possibly-reinstate-justin-j-pearson/)\n[11] [County commissioners speak out ahead of Wednesday\u2019s vote on Justin J. Pearson](https://www.actionnews5.com/2023/04/10/county-commissioners-speak-out-ahead-wednesdays-vote-justin-j-pearson/)\n[13] [Rep. Justin J. Pearson: 25% of Shelby County voters listed as 'inactive' | localmemphis.com](https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/local/rep-justin-j-pearson-inactive-voters/522-9786e86f-2788-4cd9-a1d2-71d66eb1c12a)\n[15] [Justin Pearson appointed back to House of Representatives by Shelby County Commission | News | fox13memphis.com](https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/justin-pearson-appointed-back-to-house-of-representatives-by-shelby-county-commission/article_f4c37192-d948-11ed-bdbe-8ba0fb6384aa.html)\n[16] [Crowds celebrate as Justin J. Pearson is reinstated; Action News 5 captures the moments after the history-making vote](https://www.actionnews5.com/2023/04/12/live-memphians-hold-rally-ahead-vote-reinstate-justin-pearson/)\n[22] [Justin Pearson reclaims District 86 seat in Tennessee House | News | fox13memphis.com](https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/justin-pearson-reclaims-district-86-seat-in-tennessee-house/article_c7bc3228-323b-11ee-9620-6ba7a6789a50.html)\n[25] [Pearson easily wins state House District 86 Democratic primary - Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian](https://dailymemphian.com/article/36777/memphis-justin-pearson-democratic-primary-election-district-86-tennessee-house)\n[29] [Rep. Justin J. Pearson, candidate for Congress in TN-9 ...](https://www.facebook.com/TheTNHoller/videos/new-interview-rep-justin-j-pearson-candidate-for-congress-in-tn-9-justinjpearson/24931553763146997/)\n[32] [Justin J. Pearson: Shelby County Board of Commissioners votes to reinstate expelled lawmaker - ABC News](https://abcnews.go.com/US/justin-pearson-shelby-county-board-commissioners-votes-reinstate/story?id=98524571)\n[33] [Justin J. Pearson: Memphis sends Pearson back to the Tennessee House days after GOP lawmakers ousted him | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/12/us/justin-pearson-tennessee-house-vote/index.html)\n[35] [Democrat Justin J. Pearson reinstated to the Tennessee Legislature](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/memphis-council-vote-reinstating-justin-j-pearson-tennessee-legislatur-rcna78958)\n[36] [Justin J. Pearson: Shelby County Board of Commissioners votes to reinstate expelled lawmaker](https://sports.yahoo.com/justin-j-pearson-shelby-county-185657033.html)\n[37] [Memphis state Rep. Justin Pearson to challenge U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen in 2026 Democratic primary \u2022 Tennessee Lookout](https://tennesseelookout.com/2025/10/08/memphis-state-rep-justin-pearson-to-challenge-u-s-rep-steve-cohen-in-2026-democratic/)\n[39] [County board reinstates expelled Democratic lawmaker Justin Pearson to Tennessee House | PBS News](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/county-board-reinstates-expelled-democratic-lawmaker-justin-pearson-to-tennessee-house)","campaigns":[{"contest":"us_house_9","county":"Lauderdale","county_count":3,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"primary","state":"TN","title":"US House District 9"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Justin J.","fullname":"Justin J. Pearson","lastname":"Pearson","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"us_house_9","contest_title":"US House District 9","county":"Lauderdale","county_count":3,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"us_house_9","office_title":null,"party":"D","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":null,"party":"D","primary":{"contest":"us_house_9","contest_title":"US House District 9","county":"Lauderdale","county_count":3,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"us_house_9","office_title":null,"party":"D","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"},"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"us_house_9","office_title":"US House District 9","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Justin Pearson is a Democratic Tennessee State Representative for District 86 and a candidate for U.S. House in TN-9, known for his 2023 expulsion and reinstatement over a gun control protest.","terms":[],"token":"hWIgxF2Qkt"}