Tennessee’s Justin Jones and Justin Pearson Win Back Their Seats After Expulsion
The House GOP supermajority expelled the two Black Democrats after they led a protest against gun violence in April following a mass elementary school shooting.
Politics

On Tuesday, State Reps. Justin Jones (D) and Justin Pearson (D)—two Black legislators who co-led a protest against gun violence from the floor of the Tennessee statehouse—won reelection to seats the Republican supermajority had infamously expelled the pair from back in April. Jones and Pearson, along with state Rep. Gloria Johnson (D), led chants for gun control on the State House floor after a shooting at a Nashville elementary school left three children and three adults dead.
Republicans voted to expel Jones and Pearson, but spared Johnson, a white woman, for the same supposed offense. The pair were reinstated on an interim basis by local authorities who are responsible for filling the seats in such an event (no rules say they can’t put the same people back in the position). Winning Tuesday night’s special election was critical to finish their two-year terms.
“Well, Mr. Speaker, the People have spoken,” Jones tweeted on Thursday night. “The FIND OUT era of politics is just beginning. See you August 21st for special session.”
Jones first won his seat representing the Nashville area with no Republican opponent in 2022, but defeated Republican Laura Nelson on Tuesday, per CNN. Pearson also faced no Republican opponent when he won his Memphis-area seat and defeated independent Jeff Johnston on Tuesday, per the network.