The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is naming a second Tennessee candidate – Justin J. Pearson in District 9 – to its competitive “Red to Blue” program, a signal of growing optimism about midterm gains in the South
Pearson is the Democratic nominee in the newly-drawn 9th Congressional district. Previously based in Memphis, District 9 was a majority minority, historically Democratic stronghold before Republican lawmakers redrew it to stretch across 15 counties from Memphis to Rutherford County, southeast of Nashville.
Despite the game changing redistricting map, Pearson stayed in the race – and has become a symbol of resilience as Black Memphis voters seek to overcome the political disadvantage Republican gerrymandering dealt.
“Tennesee
Republicans thought they would be able to get away with gerrymandering this district and silencing Black voters, but their scheme will backfire,” said DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene. “Justin J. Pearson is a proven fighter who has a long record of taking on tough fights and delivering real wins for his community.”
Pearson started his political career as an organizer and activist, fighting to end the Byhalia Pipeline's construction in Memphis. He helped found Memphis Community Against the Pipeline, now known as Memphis Community Against Pollution.
He was elected to the state legislature in 2023 to fill a vacant seat left by state Rep. Barbara Cooper, D-Memphis. Pearson gained national fame when House Republicans voted to expell him from the body after he protested for gun control following the Covenant School shooting in Nashville. He was immediately reappointed to the post, and has since been reelected, earning a reputation of enthusiastic debator and firebrand progressive at the State Capitol.
The DCCC's Red to Blue program includes logistical support for Pearson’s campaign like more staff, candidate training, fundraising support and strategic advising. Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder, the Democratic nominee in District 5, was named to the program earlier this year.
The move will target Pearson’s rival, Trump-endorsed Republican nominee Brent Taylor, in an effort to keep a Democrat representing the 9th District.
Taylor is a mortician by trade and is concurrently seeking reelection to the state Senate for a second term. During his first term, Taylor supported the Memphis Safe Task Force, sponsored a legally challenged bill to allow the state to effectively take over the Shelby County School Board and sponsored a bill to require driver’s tests to be given in English only.
“Brent Taylor would be yet another rubberstamp giving tax breaks to billionaires at the expense of Tennessee workers,” DelBene said, “and we’re eager to continue working with Justin to ensure Tennessee's 9th Congressional District stays in Democratic hands come November.”
President Donald Trump won the newly-drawn 9th District 60% to 38%. Cook analysts rate the district R+9. But Taylor has been distancing himself from the president, despite having fought hard for his endorsement in the primary.
Recently, Taylor removed a pop-up window on his campaign website touting Trump’s endorsement. After highlighting the endorsement or praising the president in nearly every post on social media throughout the primary, Taylor has not mentioned Trump in posts on X for more than a month.
Republicans used every tool in their supermajority toolbox to stack the deck against Democrats politically during the last two rounds of redistricting.
When Trump asked them to draw a new Congressional map to defend his House majority, Tennessee Republicans redrew Tennessee’s Congressional districts so that all nine favor Republicans.
If Democrats manage to eke out even one Congressional seat this cycle, it would deal a serious blow to lawmakers’ efforts.
This move signals Democrats’ confidence that both Molder and Pearson are on strong footing in the path to victory.
National polling has forecast a big year for Democrats in the upcoming midterms, amid rising costs, the ongoing war in Iran and growing concern about corruption. Bill Lyons, associate director for community outreach at the Institute for American Civics at the University of Tennessee, said redistricting set Democrats back, but there could be surprises in store.
“I think there’s a definite upswing in support of Democrats nationally and I think in Tennessee as well,” Lyons told The Tennessean.
Vivian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Reach her at vjones@tennessean.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: DCCC names Pearson to ‘Red to Blue’ class in effort to hold TN-9: Exclusive
