Justin Pearson concedes in redrawn Tennessee district
The gist
Democrat Justin J. Pearson conceded Tennessee's 9th District race, trailing Republican Brent Taylor by about 1.1 points.
The seat was redrawn to split Memphis, ending decades of Democratic hold there.
How it unfolded
- Oct 2025Justin J. Pearson launched his campaign for the 9th District, challenging longtime U.S. Rep. Steven Cohen.
- May 2026Tennessee Republicans held a special session and passed a redistricting plan splitting Memphis into three congressional districts, after the Supreme Court struck down part of the Voting Rights Act in Louisiana v. Callais. Cohen ended his campaign soon after.
- Aug 2026Pearson defeated state Sen. London Lamar in the Democratic primary; Brent Taylor won the Republican primary.