Tennessee state Representative Justin Pearson won the Democratic primary for the newly redrawn 9th Congressional District on August 6, 2026, defeating state Senator London Lamar by a margin of 40 points, receiving 64.9% of the vote compared to Lamar's 24.9%, according to the Associated Press. Pearson's candidacy gained national attention as part of the 'Tennessee Three,' a group of lawmakers expelled from the legislature for protesting gun violence.
Following mid-decade redistricting, Pearson will face challenges in the general election as the district shifted from a Democratic stronghold to a Republican-leaning area. Retiring Representative Steve Cohen, who held the seat for nearly two decades, opted not to seek reelection due to the redistricting.
The primary race highlighted ideological differences within the Democratic Party, with Pearson receiving endorsements from progressive figures such as Senator Bernie Sanders and Representatives Ro Khanna and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, while Lamar was supported by Cohen. Lamar's campaign focused on issues like affordable housing and food security, whereas Pearson advocated for progressive policies including 'Medicare for all' and increasing the minimum wage.
Pearson is expected to compete against Republican candidate state Senator Brent Taylor in the November general election. The newly drawn 9th District, located east of Memphis, previously favored Trump by a 21-percentage-point margin, according to the Cook Political Report.