Tennessee State Representative Justin J. Pearson, one of the “Tennessee Three” who became a national voice for gun reform and racial justice, has officially announced his campaign for U.S. Congress, launching a Democratic primary challenge against veteran lawmaker Rep. Steve Cohen in Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District.
Pearson, 30, made the announcement Wednesday, positioning his campaign as a generational call for change and equity in Memphis — a city he says has long been underserved by federal investment.
“For too long, our district has been told to ‘keep going’ with the same leadership and the same outcomes,” Pearson said in his campaign statement. “Our median income in 2024 was only 65% of the national average. Poverty persists across neighborhoods, and we’ve seen significantly less federal investment compared to other communities in Tennessee. We can’t afford more of the same. It’s time for a new vision — one that matches the scale of our challenges with the urgency our people deserve.”
In 2023, Pearson and fellow state representatives Justin Jones and Gloria Johnson, known collectively as the Tennessee Three, protested on the House floor following a mass school shooting in Nashville.
Pearson and Jones were expelled by the Republican-controlled Legislature, only to be reinstated after a national outcry. The moment made Pearson one of the most recognizable young voices in Democratic politics.
Pearson’s campaign has the backing of Justice Democrats and Leaders We Deserve, a group founded by gun reform activist and former DNC Vice Chair David Hogg, which plans to invest $1 million in the race.
“The communities and rising young leadership Justin represents in the 9th are on the frontlines of Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s war on working families,” said Alexandra Rojas, Executive Director of Justice Democrats, in a statement. “This district does not have time to wait or keep going with the same status quo leadership that has governed for decades.”
Cohen, 76, has held the seat since 2007 and currently serves on the Judiciary and Intelligence committees. A well-known fixture in Memphis politics, Cohen has rarely faced a serious primary challenge since his first election nearly two decades ago.
Pearson’s campaign argues that it’s time for more active engagement and leadership from the district’s congressional representative.
“Our people need a fighter who will be in the fight for justice and opportunity with them — not just in title, but in action,” Pearson said.
His campaign platform includes expanding access to affordable housing, passing common-sense gun legislation, increasing federal investment in anti-poverty and anti-crime initiatives, supporting Medicare for All, and strengthening resources for military veterans.
Whoever wins the Democratic primary will likely secure the seat in the general election. The 9th District, which includes Memphis, is solidly Democratic. Cohen won re-election in 2024 by 46 percentage points, while Vice President Kamala Harris carried the district by 44 points.
