{"county":null,"description":"The Tennessee House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the state legislature, with 99 members elected from single-member districts to two-year terms. Representatives pass state laws, originate revenue bills, approve the state budget, and \u2014 together with the Senate \u2014 confirm gubernatorial appointments and propose constitutional amendments. Candidates must be at least 21 years old, U.S. citizens, Tennessee residents for at least three years, and district residents for at least one year.","district":"086","districtgroup":"state_house","id":289,"key":"state_house_086","lastchangeby":null,"name":null,"next_election":null,"notes":null,"officegroup":"tn_house","partisan":1,"party":null,"qualities":"- **Integrity** \u2014 Acts in the interest of constituents and the public good rather than for personal gain, and remains independent of undue influence from donors, lobbyists, and party leadership.\n- **Understanding of the constituency** \u2014 Grasps both the economic-development needs of the district and the day-to-day concerns of individual residents \u2014 safety, healthcare, education, infrastructure.\n- **Persuasion** \u2014 Engages, listens to, and persuades both fellow legislators and constituents. Can change minds and explain votes honestly.\n- **Legislative craft** \u2014 Reads, drafts, and amends statute with care. Understands how specific bill language translates to outcomes, and knows the body of law being modified.\n- **Coalition-building** \u2014 Finds common ground across partisan and factional lines, brokers compromises that hold, and forms working majorities even when consensus is hard to reach.","quantity":1,"source":null,"state":"tn","term_end":null,"term_start":null,"term_years":2,"terms":[{"current":0,"description":"","electiondate":"2022-11-08","name":"Justin J.  Pearson","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nJustin Pearson currently serves as a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 86, having assumed office on August 21, 2023, following his reappointment by the Shelby County Commission after a controversial expulsion from the chamber earlier that year [1][3][7]. His current term in the state legislature is scheduled to end on November 3, 2026 [1].\n\nIn the upcoming election cycle, Pearson has declared his candidacy for the Democratic primary to represent Tennessee's 9th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives [1]. He announced his plan to challenge incumbent U.S. Representative Steve Cohen during a campaign event at Memphis\u2019s Alonzo Weaver Park in October 2025 [12]. Pearson frames his congressional bid as an effort to preserve Memphis' only majority Black congressional district from potential elimination [9].\n\nSimultaneously, Pearson is seeking re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 86, with a Democratic primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1].\n\n## Background and education\n\nJustin J. Pearson was born in 1995 [4]. He is a resident of Memphis, Tennessee, where he serves as a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 86 [1][2]. Specific details regarding his early upbringing, religious affiliation, or the specific schools and degrees he attended are not provided in the available source material.\n\n## Career\n\nBefore entering elected office, Justin J. Pearson graduated from Bowdoin College with a Bachelor of Arts degree [16]. He established himself as a community organizer and activist in Memphis, Tennessee, focusing on issues such as environmental justice, gun safety, and economic equity [17]. During this period, he served as the president and founder of Memphis Community Against Pollution [17].\n\nPearson\u2019s professional background is rooted in advocacy and community leadership rather than traditional corporate or military service. He describes his career as that of an advocate and fighter for justice [18]. His work as a community organizer preceded his election to the Tennessee House of Representatives in January 2023, at which point he became one of the youngest lawmakers in the state\u2019s history [17].\n\n## Office history\n\nJustin J. Pearson was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 86 in January 2023, becoming one of the youngest members of the chamber by replacing the late Barbara Cooper [7]. He assumed office on August 21, 2023, with his current term ending on November 3, 2026 [1]. As a state representative, he serves in a body where members serve two-year terms and represent an average of approximately 69,868 residents as of the 2020 Census [2].\n\nIn March 2023, Pearson was expelled from the Tennessee House along with Representatives Justin Jones and Gloria Johnson after leading an anti-gun protest on the chamber floor in response to the Nashville school shooting [3][5][6]. The Republican supermajority voted to oust him, a move that former President Joe Biden described as \"shocking,\" \"undemocratic,\" and \"unprecedented\" [7][13].\n\nFollowing his expulsion, the Shelby County Board of Commissioners voted 7-0 to reappoint Pearson to fill the vacant seat during a special meeting on April 12, 2023 [8][14]. The commission suspended a rule requiring a waiting period between nomination and confirmation to facilitate his rapid return to Nashville [15]. Pearson was sworn back into office shortly thereafter, stating that lawmakers could not \"expel hope\" or \"expel justice\" [8][13].\n\nPearson is currently running for re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives to represent District 86 in the Democratic primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1]. He has also declared his candidacy for the Democratic primary to represent Tennessee's 9th Congressional District in the same election cycle [1]. Pearson announced his bid to challenge longtime U.S. Representative Steve Cohen in October 2025 [12].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nAs a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 86, Pearson\u2019s legislative tenure was marked by a high-profile conflict regarding gun control legislation following the Nashville school shooting [5]. In March 2023, Pearson joined two other Democratic representatives in a protest on the House floor demanding stricter gun laws, which led to his expulsion by the Republican supermajority [3][11]. This action made him one of only a small number of state legislators expelled since 2000 [3].\n\nFollowing his ouster, the Shelby County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to reappoint Pearson to his seat, allowing him to return to the legislature as an interim representative [7][10]. During this period, Pearson became part of the group known as the \"Tennessee Three,\" a label applied to the three Democratic lawmakers involved in the protest who faced expulsion proceedings [11]. Upon his reinstatement, Pearson stated that the legislative body could not expel hope or justice [13].\n\nPearson\u2019s legislative record and subsequent political trajectory include a focus on preserving Memphis' only majority Black congressional district from elimination [9]. In October 2025, he announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives to represent Tennessee's 9th Congressional District in the 2026 Democratic primary, challenging incumbent U.S. Representative Steve Cohen [12]. Pearson declared his candidacy for both the U.S. House and re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives simultaneously [1].\n\n## Documented disputes and controversies\n\nIn March 2023, Pearson was expelled from the Tennessee House of Representatives by a vote of the Republican supermajority after he and two other Democratic representatives, known as the \"Tennessee Three,\" staged an anti-gun violence protest on the chamber floor following the Nashville school shooting [3][5]. The expulsion followed an incident in which Pearson engaged in a verbal altercation with a Tennessee State Trooper who had entered the chamber to remove him [5].\n\nFollowing his ouster, Pearson faced a vacancy in his District 86 seat that required reappointment by local officials. On April 12, 2023, the Shelby County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to reinstate Pearson to the Tennessee House, overriding a procedural rule that would have imposed a waiting period for his nomination [8][10][15]. The reinstatement was widely publicized, with President Joe Biden describing the initial expulsion as \"shocking,\" \"undemocratic,\" and \"unprecedented\" [7][13].\n\nPearson\u2019s political trajectory shifted toward federal office in October 2025 when he announced a challenge to incumbent U.S. Representative Steve Cohen in the 2026 Democratic primary for Tennessee's 9th Congressional District [1][12]. Pearson stated that his campaign would focus on faith and the preservation of Memphis' majority Black congressional district, which faces potential elimination due to redistricting [9][12].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Justin Pearson (Tennessee) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Justin_Pearson_(Tennessee))\n[2] [Tennessee House of Representatives District 86 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Tennessee_House_of_Representatives_District_86)\n[3] [At least 27 state legislators have been expelled since 2000 - Ballotpedia News](https://news.ballotpedia.org/2023/04/20/at-least-27-state-legislators-have-been-expelled-since-2000/)\n[4] [Justin Pearson - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Pearson)\n[5] [Rep. Justin Pearson Cusses Out Tennessee State Trooper - United for Equity](https://news.unitedforequity.org/rep-justin-pearson-cusses-out-tennessee-state-trooper/)\n[6] [Memphians talk Pearson ousting: Pearson confirms re-election plans | News | fox13memphis.com](https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/memphians-talk-pearson-ousting-pearson-confirms-re-election-plans/article_a314c216-d582-11ed-9766-8f4212e502ec.html)\n[7] [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[8] [\"You can't expel hope\" | Shelby County Commission reappoints St. Rep. Justin Pearson to TN House seat](https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/politics/reappointing-pearson-to-be-considered-at-special-meeting-wednesday-shelby-county-chairman-mickell-lowery-says/522-207314c7-3942-4541-8667-1a42de7691a4)\n[9] [Tennessee Rep. Justin Pearson is running for Congress ...](https://www.facebook.com/newschannel5/posts/tennessee-rep-justin-pearson-is-running-for-congress-while-fighting-to-preserve-/1437145531789883/)\n[10] [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[11] [Justin Pearson | PBS News](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/tag/justin-pearson)\n[12] [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[13] [Justin Pearson: Black Tennessee lawmaker reinstated after 'undemocratic' expulsion vote | The National](https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/us-news/2023/04/13/justin-pearson-tennessee/)\n[14] [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)\n[15] [Justin Pearson reinstated: Memphis sends expelled Black lawmaker back to Tennessee House days after GOP lawmakers ousted him - ABC13 Houston](https://abc13.com/post/justin-pearson-tennessee-lawmaker-reinstated/13118219/)\n[16] [Justin J. Pearson - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_J._Pearson)\n[17] [Justin J. Pearson | Speaking Fee | Booking Agent](https://www.allamericanspeakers.com/speakers/453517/Justin-J.-Pearson)\n[18] [Justin J. Pearson for U.S. Congress](https://www.votejustinj.com/)","firstname":"Justin","lastname":"Pearson","middlename":"J.","token":"yzNPUFas6E"},"term_end":"2024-12-31","term_start":"2023-01-01"},{"current":1,"description":null,"electiondate":"2024-08-01","name":"Justin J. Pearson","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nJustin Pearson currently serves as a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 86, having assumed office on August 21, 2023, following his reappointment by the Shelby County Commission after a controversial expulsion from the chamber earlier that year [1][3][7]. His current term in the state legislature is scheduled to end on November 3, 2026 [1].\n\nIn the upcoming election cycle, Pearson has declared his candidacy for the Democratic primary to represent Tennessee's 9th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives [1]. He announced his plan to challenge incumbent U.S. Representative Steve Cohen during a campaign event at Memphis\u2019s Alonzo Weaver Park in October 2025 [12]. Pearson frames his congressional bid as an effort to preserve Memphis' only majority Black congressional district from potential elimination [9].\n\nSimultaneously, Pearson is seeking re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 86, with a Democratic primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1].\n\n## Background and education\n\nJustin J. Pearson was born in 1995 [4]. He is a resident of Memphis, Tennessee, where he serves as a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 86 [1][2]. Specific details regarding his early upbringing, religious affiliation, or the specific schools and degrees he attended are not provided in the available source material.\n\n## Career\n\nBefore entering elected office, Justin J. Pearson graduated from Bowdoin College with a Bachelor of Arts degree [16]. He established himself as a community organizer and activist in Memphis, Tennessee, focusing on issues such as environmental justice, gun safety, and economic equity [17]. During this period, he served as the president and founder of Memphis Community Against Pollution [17].\n\nPearson\u2019s professional background is rooted in advocacy and community leadership rather than traditional corporate or military service. He describes his career as that of an advocate and fighter for justice [18]. His work as a community organizer preceded his election to the Tennessee House of Representatives in January 2023, at which point he became one of the youngest lawmakers in the state\u2019s history [17].\n\n## Office history\n\nJustin J. Pearson was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 86 in January 2023, becoming one of the youngest members of the chamber by replacing the late Barbara Cooper [7]. He assumed office on August 21, 2023, with his current term ending on November 3, 2026 [1]. As a state representative, he serves in a body where members serve two-year terms and represent an average of approximately 69,868 residents as of the 2020 Census [2].\n\nIn March 2023, Pearson was expelled from the Tennessee House along with Representatives Justin Jones and Gloria Johnson after leading an anti-gun protest on the chamber floor in response to the Nashville school shooting [3][5][6]. The Republican supermajority voted to oust him, a move that former President Joe Biden described as \"shocking,\" \"undemocratic,\" and \"unprecedented\" [7][13].\n\nFollowing his expulsion, the Shelby County Board of Commissioners voted 7-0 to reappoint Pearson to fill the vacant seat during a special meeting on April 12, 2023 [8][14]. The commission suspended a rule requiring a waiting period between nomination and confirmation to facilitate his rapid return to Nashville [15]. Pearson was sworn back into office shortly thereafter, stating that lawmakers could not \"expel hope\" or \"expel justice\" [8][13].\n\nPearson is currently running for re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives to represent District 86 in the Democratic primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1]. He has also declared his candidacy for the Democratic primary to represent Tennessee's 9th Congressional District in the same election cycle [1]. Pearson announced his bid to challenge longtime U.S. Representative Steve Cohen in October 2025 [12].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nAs a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 86, Pearson\u2019s legislative tenure was marked by a high-profile conflict regarding gun control legislation following the Nashville school shooting [5]. In March 2023, Pearson joined two other Democratic representatives in a protest on the House floor demanding stricter gun laws, which led to his expulsion by the Republican supermajority [3][11]. This action made him one of only a small number of state legislators expelled since 2000 [3].\n\nFollowing his ouster, the Shelby County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to reappoint Pearson to his seat, allowing him to return to the legislature as an interim representative [7][10]. During this period, Pearson became part of the group known as the \"Tennessee Three,\" a label applied to the three Democratic lawmakers involved in the protest who faced expulsion proceedings [11]. Upon his reinstatement, Pearson stated that the legislative body could not expel hope or justice [13].\n\nPearson\u2019s legislative record and subsequent political trajectory include a focus on preserving Memphis' only majority Black congressional district from elimination [9]. In October 2025, he announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives to represent Tennessee's 9th Congressional District in the 2026 Democratic primary, challenging incumbent U.S. Representative Steve Cohen [12]. Pearson declared his candidacy for both the U.S. House and re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives simultaneously [1].\n\n## Documented disputes and controversies\n\nIn March 2023, Pearson was expelled from the Tennessee House of Representatives by a vote of the Republican supermajority after he and two other Democratic representatives, known as the \"Tennessee Three,\" staged an anti-gun violence protest on the chamber floor following the Nashville school shooting [3][5]. The expulsion followed an incident in which Pearson engaged in a verbal altercation with a Tennessee State Trooper who had entered the chamber to remove him [5].\n\nFollowing his ouster, Pearson faced a vacancy in his District 86 seat that required reappointment by local officials. On April 12, 2023, the Shelby County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to reinstate Pearson to the Tennessee House, overriding a procedural rule that would have imposed a waiting period for his nomination [8][10][15]. The reinstatement was widely publicized, with President Joe Biden describing the initial expulsion as \"shocking,\" \"undemocratic,\" and \"unprecedented\" [7][13].\n\nPearson\u2019s political trajectory shifted toward federal office in October 2025 when he announced a challenge to incumbent U.S. Representative Steve Cohen in the 2026 Democratic primary for Tennessee's 9th Congressional District [1][12]. Pearson stated that his campaign would focus on faith and the preservation of Memphis' majority Black congressional district, which faces potential elimination due to redistricting [9][12].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Justin Pearson (Tennessee) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Justin_Pearson_(Tennessee))\n[2] [Tennessee House of Representatives District 86 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Tennessee_House_of_Representatives_District_86)\n[3] [At least 27 state legislators have been expelled since 2000 - Ballotpedia News](https://news.ballotpedia.org/2023/04/20/at-least-27-state-legislators-have-been-expelled-since-2000/)\n[4] [Justin Pearson - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Pearson)\n[5] [Rep. Justin Pearson Cusses Out Tennessee State Trooper - United for Equity](https://news.unitedforequity.org/rep-justin-pearson-cusses-out-tennessee-state-trooper/)\n[6] [Memphians talk Pearson ousting: Pearson confirms re-election plans | News | fox13memphis.com](https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/memphians-talk-pearson-ousting-pearson-confirms-re-election-plans/article_a314c216-d582-11ed-9766-8f4212e502ec.html)\n[7] [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[8] [\"You can't expel hope\" | Shelby County Commission reappoints St. Rep. Justin Pearson to TN House seat](https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/politics/reappointing-pearson-to-be-considered-at-special-meeting-wednesday-shelby-county-chairman-mickell-lowery-says/522-207314c7-3942-4541-8667-1a42de7691a4)\n[9] [Tennessee Rep. Justin Pearson is running for Congress ...](https://www.facebook.com/newschannel5/posts/tennessee-rep-justin-pearson-is-running-for-congress-while-fighting-to-preserve-/1437145531789883/)\n[10] [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[11] [Justin Pearson | PBS News](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/tag/justin-pearson)\n[12] [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[13] [Justin Pearson: Black Tennessee lawmaker reinstated after 'undemocratic' expulsion vote | The National](https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/us-news/2023/04/13/justin-pearson-tennessee/)\n[14] [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)\n[15] [Justin Pearson reinstated: Memphis sends expelled Black lawmaker back to Tennessee House days after GOP lawmakers ousted him - ABC13 Houston](https://abc13.com/post/justin-pearson-tennessee-lawmaker-reinstated/13118219/)\n[16] [Justin J. Pearson - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_J._Pearson)\n[17] [Justin J. Pearson | Speaking Fee | Booking Agent](https://www.allamericanspeakers.com/speakers/453517/Justin-J.-Pearson)\n[18] [Justin J. Pearson for U.S. Congress](https://www.votejustinj.com/)","firstname":"Justin","lastname":"Pearson","middlename":"J.","token":"yzNPUFas6E"},"term_end":"2026-08-01","term_start":"2024-08-01"}],"title":"State Representative District 86","type":"legislative","url":"https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H86","whenchanged":"2026-06-19 17:40:13"}