Two Democratic lawmakers from Tennessee who were expelled from their seats for protesting in favor of stricter gun control have successfully regained their positions. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, both Democrats and part of the so-called “Tennessee Three,” emerged victorious in their special elections on Thursday against Republican opponents.
Their expulsion came after participating in a protest on the state House floor following the tragic Covenant School shooting on March 27. GOP state lawmakers voted to expel Jones and Pearson, leading to criticism from the White House, which labeled the move as undemocratic and an attempt to silence duly elected representatives.
The district that Jones and Pearson will now represent is predominantly Democratic. Alongside Representative Gloria Johnson, they took part in a protest at the Capitol building to demand stricter gun control measures from Republicans.
House Republicans justified their decision to expel Jones and Pearson by claiming their actions violated House rules. However, Johnson, who also participated in the protest, was not expelled.
The suspect in the Nashville shooting, Audrey Hale, is a former student at a private Christian school. She entered the building by shooting through a locked glass door, armed with two rifles and a handgun.
Following their election victory, the Tennessee Three, consisting of Jones, Pearson, and Johnson, met with President Joe Biden in the Oval Office to discuss ongoing efforts to ban assault weapons.
In response to the mass shooting at the Covenant School, memorials were set up outside the school in honor of the six victims, including three school employees and three 9-year-old students.
Three school employees lost their lives: Head of School Katherine Koonce, substitute teacher Cynthia Peak, and custodian Mike Hill. The three students who tragically perished were Hallie Scruggs, Evelyn Dieckhaus, and William Kinney.
This report includes contributions from Fox News’ Danielle Wallace and The Associated Press. For story tips, reach out to [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @asabes10.
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