Justin J. Pearson

Justin J. Pearson is a Democratic member of the Tennessee House of Representatives, representing District 86. He gained national prominence in April 2023 when he, along with Justin Jones, was expelled from the state legislature for participating in a protest on the House floor advocating for gun control following a school shooting. Pearson was subsequently reinstated to his seat by the Memphis City Council. His expulsion and reinstatement highlighted national debates surrounding legislative decorum, protest, and the representation of minority voices. While the provided articles focus on redistricting battles and election cycles in 2026, Pearson's prior expulsion and his role as a young, Black legislator from a majority-Black district make him a figure of ongoing political significance, particularly in discussions about representation and legislative power dynamics.