NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Representatives Justin Pearson and Justin Jones, known as the “Tennessee Three,” have reclaimed their legislative seats after being expelled for participating in a gun control protest on the House floor. These young Black lawmakers were reinstated on an interim basis by local officials and have now fully regained their positions through a special election, despite facing opponents in districts that heavily favor Democrats.
Jones, who resides in Nashville, competed against Republican candidate Laura Nelson, while Pearson, from Memphis, faced independent candidate Jeff Johnston. Pearson took to Twitter earlier this month to send a powerful message, stating, “Let’s send a clear message to everyone who thought they could silence the voice of District 86. You can’t expel a movement!”
The timing of Thursday’s election coincides with lawmakers’ preparation for a special session later this month to address potential changes to the state’s gun control laws. While Jones and Pearson’s reelection may not significantly impact the Republican supermajority in the Legislature, they are expected to strongly oppose certain policies put forth by their GOP colleagues.
Jones and Pearson were elected to the Statehouse last year and previously remained relatively under the radar as they criticized the policies of their Republican counterparts. However, this spring, their political careers gained momentum when they joined Democrat Representative Gloria Johnson in a protest on the House floor, calling for stricter gun control measures. This demonstration took place shortly after a tragic shooting at a private Christian school in Nashville, where six individuals lost their lives. As thousands of protesters flocked to the Capitol building demanding action, the three lawmakers stood at the front of the House chamber, amplifying the chants and pleas for change with a bullhorn.
Republican lawmakers swiftly deemed their actions as violations of House rules and moved to expel the three colleagues. Such a move has rarely occurred since the Civil War. The expulsion left approximately 140,000 voters primarily in Black districts in Nashville and Memphis without proper representation in the Tennessee House.
Interestingly, Johnson, who is white, narrowly escaped expulsion, while Pearson and Jones were removed by the predominantly white GOP caucus. Despite House Republican leaders denying any racial bias during the expulsion hearings, Democrats, including Johnson, disagreed. Johnson argued that the only reason she avoided expulsion was due to her being white.
The expulsions garnered national support for the now-famous “Tennessee Three,” significantly boosting Pearson and Jones’ campaign fundraising efforts. Together, they raised over $2 million from around 70,400 donations across the country. This amount far surpasses the usual fundraising figures for Tennessee’s Republican legislative leaders and is unprecedented for two freshman Democrats in a superminority.
In contrast, more than 15 Republican lawmakers contributed funds to support Jones’ Republican opponent, Laura Nelson, who managed to raise over $34,000 for the race. Pearson’s competitor, Jeff Johnston, raised less than $400.
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