Tennessee Reps. Justin Pearson and Justin Jones have advanced past an election hurdle after the two young Black lawmakers were expelled earlier this year for their gun control protest on the House floor, then reinstated by local officials days afterward.
Over a matter of weeks, Pearson, Jones and Johnson rose to national prominence.
Pearson first won a special election primary for his seat in January. Because he had no general election opponent, local officials appointed him to fill the seat early. After his expulsion, he was appointed back to the seat. If he wins the August general election, he will still be up for election again in the 2024 cycle, with an August primary and November general election.
Meanwhile, lawmakers are preparing for a special session called by Republican Gov. Bill Lee, who is pushing to remove firearms from people judged dangerous to themselves or others. Republicans, who have supermajorities in the House and Senate, declined to take up Lee’s proposal during the legislative session that ended in April.
“We shouldn't be campaigning right now. We should be preparing completely for special session and making sure that the legislation that we put forward gets its fair chance to be heard,” Pearson said. “That’s what we should be able to be investing our time on. But it’s due to the unjust actions of the Republican Party that we’re having to run again.”
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