Democrat · Tennessee's 9th District · 2026
Justin Pearson
Pearson grew up in Memphis as one of five sons, with a teacher for a mother and a preacher for a father.
Biography
Justin J. Pearson grew up in Memphis as the fourth of five boys, with parents who took turns attending college while raising their family.1 He lives in Memphis with his wife, Oceana, two dogs and a cat.1
Pearson attended Mitchell High School and Bowdoin College, and voters elected him to represent District 86 in the Tennessee House in 2023.23 His advocacy began as a student seeking better school resources and later included cofounding Memphis Community Against Pollution.3
That organization helped lead opposition to the proposed Byhalia oil pipeline through predominantly Black neighborhoods in South Memphis.3 The project was canceled in July 2021; the company cited lower American oil production during the pandemic as its primary reason.4 As a state legislator, Pearson has also campaigned for stronger protections around large data centers.1 In 2024, he introduced a public website tool proposal for locating facilities reporting toxic releases.5 A subcommittee recommended passage, but the full Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee deferred action.5
His congressional platform supports Medicare for All, a federal jobs guarantee, stronger union organizing rights and a higher minimum wage.6 He also proposes gun purchase background checks, waiting periods, carry permits and an assault rifle ban.6 Pearson faces Republican Brent Taylor and two independents.7
Record and controversies
Council meeting ban and temporary court relief
Following protests over a data center moratorium at an October 6, 2026 meeting, Memphis City Council barred Pearson and five others from upcoming meetings, citing its speech and decorum policy.8 They sued, arguing that the restrictions violated their First Amendment rights.8 On October 20, Judge Thomas L. Parker partly granted a temporary restraining order that allowed attendance at that day's meeting and found the plaintiffs were likely to show that several speech restrictions were unconstitutional.8 That was preliminary relief, rather than a final resolution of all claims.8
House expulsion and return to office
The Tennessee House expelled Pearson on April 6, 2023, by a vote of 69 to 26, after he joined a floor protest for gun reform following the fatal Nashville school shooting.910 Local officials temporarily reappointed him, and he then won the August 3 special election to continue representing District 86.10