There are 37 article(s) tagged Justin J. Pearson:

• April 2025

  • Colossus: Can Memphis stop Elon Musk?

    To many, xAI is just another chapter in what residents said they think is a legacy of industrial racism and pollution. The debate centers on one central question: Is Colossus worth the cost?

    By Samuel Hardiman April 25, 2025

• August 2024

  • Local reaction to gun-control threat crosses party lines

    State reps. John Gillespie and Justin J. Pearson were some of the Memphis-area legislators pushing for local gun-control measures on the Nov. 5 ballot after a threat from state Republican leadership.

    By Samuel Hardiman, Bill Dries August 26, 2024

  • ‘Tennessee 3’ bumped from final day of Chicago Democratic convention

    Memphis Democrat Justin J. Pearson, along with Gloria Johnson of Knoxville and Justin Jones of Nashville, had been scheduled to take the national stage just before the balloon drop during the Democratic National Convention.

    By Bill Dries August 23, 2024

  • Democrats tout plans to flip Tennessee House seats

    Democrats have a goal of flipping seven to eight state House seats through the 2028 elections to bring Republicans down to just a simple majority there.

    By Bill Dries August 11, 2024

  • Here’s who’s going to Nashville from Shelby County

    The incumbents in every contested Shelby County legislative primary cruised to reelection Thursday, meaning there may not be much change in the local delegation. 

    By Samuel Hardiman August 03, 2024

• August 2023

  • Here are details on the four bills the General Assembly passed

    The two chambers of the Tennessee General Assembly resolved a standoff on Tuesday, Aug. 29, agreeing to pass the four bills that the Senate passed last week and ending a special session prompted by the Covenant School shooting.

    By Ian Round August 29, 2023

  • Justin J. Pearson sworn into state House — again — before special session

    Justin J. Pearson was sworn into the state House of Representatives for the third time on Monday, Aug. 21, following his April 6 expulsion, quick interim reappointment and subsequent special election victory earlier this month.

    By Ian Round August 21, 2023

  • Justin J. Pearson easily keeps state House District 86 seat

    Pearson easily beat independent candidate Jeff Johnston in the second special general election this year for the seat covering the western edge of Shelby County.

    By Bill Dries August 03, 2023

• July 2023

  • Justin J. Pearson, Justin Jones report massive fundraising after expulsions

    State Reps. Justin J. Pearson and Justin Jones both now have more campaign money than any of the Republican lawmakers who expelled them in April.

    By Ian Round July 18, 2023

• June 2023

  • Pearson easily wins state House District 86 Democratic primary

    In the low-turnout contest, Justin J. Pearson got better than 94% of the vote across 19 precincts, compared to 5% for challenger David Page.

    By Bill Dries June 15, 2023

  • ‘Tennessee Three’ expulsions violated First Amendment, report argues

    Not since 1920, when the New York State Assembly ousted five representatives for being socialists during the post-World War I Red Scare, had a legislature expelled a member for their views.

    By Ian Round June 07, 2023

• May 2023

  • Pearson has challengers in Tennessee House special elections

    The deadline for candidates to file in the special election was noon Thursday, May 4. Justin J. Pearson and David Page are in the June Democratic primary.

    By Bill Dries May 05, 2023

• April 2023

  • Justin J. Pearson, Tennessee Three visit White House

    “It’s just tragic to see what’s happening — in your state in particular,” Biden told state Reps. Justin J. Pearson, Justin Jones and Gloria Johnson. “There’s nothing guaranteed about democracy. Every generation has to fight for it, and you all are doing just that.”

    By Ian Round April 25, 2023

  • Tennessee General Assembly ends legislative session

    The Tennessee General Assembly adjourned for the year on Friday, April 21, after a session defined by the short-lived expulsion of two young Black Democrats as well as a loud — and ultimately fruitless — effort at gun reform.

    By Ian Round April 22, 2023

  • Herrington: ‘Civility can be a cudgel, decorum a dodge’

    Whether it’s denying Memphis funding as punishment for removing Confederate statues or attempting to punish Nashville for not hosting the 2024 Republican National Convention, these are proxies for a political divide between urban and rural communities. 

    By Chris Herrington April 17, 2023

  • Justin J. Pearson sworn back into Tennessee House of Representatives

    Pearson was sworn in at the legislative plaza next to the State Capitol by Nashville General Sessions Judge Rachel Bell in front of a small group of gun safety advocates.

    By Ian Round April 13, 2023

  • Justin J. Pearson appointed to House seat in 7-0 vote

    The commission voted to return Pearson to the District 86 state House seat at a special meeting Wednesday, April 12.

    Related story: 

    Several hundred march to Shelby County Commission

    By Bill Dries April 12, 2023

  • Several hundred march to Shelby County Commission

    The march from the National Civil Rights Museum to the county building comes ahead of the Wednesday, April 12, county commission vote to appoint Justin J. Pearson to his District 86 seat in the state House of Representatives.

    By Bill Dries April 12, 2023

  • Sanford: Memo to state House Republicans: Political dynasties don’t last forever

    Given the activism that is being whipped up among younger voters and others who believe there should be some limits to gun rights, the Tennessee 3 incident could be the turning point away from GOP super-dominance in Tennessee.

    By Otis Sanford April 11, 2023

  • Letter to the Editor: ‘Ethos of Tennessee’ is not ‘what we envisioned’

    “We are turning our attention to another state – still in the South, but not as derisive as what we see (and hear and read) in Tennessee.”

    By Letters to the Editor April 11, 2023

  • County Commission to weigh reinstating Pearson to state House

    “I have heard from my constituents, people across the county, and state as well as Republicans and Democrats, so I will be voting to reappoint Justin Pearson,” said one member of the County Commission. 

    By Bill Dries April 07, 2023

  • Rep. Justin Pearson says move to expel is ‘persecution’

    Rep. Justin Pearson spoke at the Tuesday, April 4, ceremony at the National Civil Rights Museum marking the 55th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. 

    By Bill Dries April 04, 2023

• March 2023

  • State House District 86 special election outcome already decided

    The special election to fill the vacancy for the state House seat held by the late Barbara Cooper was decided with the January primary. Democrat Justin J. Pearson is running unopposed on the Tuesday, March 14, ballot. He’s already serving in Nashville by appointment.

    By Bill Dries March 13, 2023

• January 2023

  • Pearson heading to Nashville after appointment to state House seat

    Environmental activist Justin J. Pearson followed up his Tuesday victory in the District 86 Democratic primary with a 9-0 county commission vote Wednesday, appointing him to the open seat in the Shelby County delegation.

    By Bill Dries January 25, 2023

• December 2022

  • County Commission to consider filling Barbara Cooper’s state House seat

    The Shelby County Commission meets Wednesday, Dec. 14, to talk about making an appointment to the State House District 86 seat ahead of the special elections.

    By Bill Dries December 13, 2022