{"id":30903,"date":"2026-08-07T09:08:40","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T04:08:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=30903"},"modified":"2026-08-07T09:08:40","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T04:08:40","slug":"squad-backed-tennessee-three-state-lawmaker-wins-primary-in-newly-redrawn-district","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=30903","title":{"rendered":"Squad-backed &#8216;Tennessee Three&#8217; state lawmaker wins primary in newly redrawn district"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div id=\"beyondwords-wrapper\" data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"beyondwords-wrapper\">\n<p><span class=\"label-bg\">NEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">Squad-backed Tennessee state Rep. Justin Pearson, District 86, part of the trio of lawmakers in his state referred to as the &#8220;Tennessee Three,&#8221; won the Democratic primary Thursday in Tennessee&#8217;s newly redrawn 9th Congressional District.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">Pearson defeated state Sen. London Lamar, District 33, community activist Marion LaTroy Alexandria-Williams and attorney Jim Torino. He will face Brent Taylor,<strong> <\/strong>the Republican nominee who was endorsed by President Donald Trump,<strong> <\/strong>in November with his campaign warchest of millions of dollars he has raised throughout his campaign, significantly outpacing his Democratic opponents.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The Memphis-area state lawmaker entered the primary with the backing of prominent Democrats who are part of the progressive group of lawmakers called &#8220;the Squad,&#8221; including Reps. <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_27715\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/person\/alexandria-ocasio-cortez\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez<\/a>, D-N.Y., Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., and Summer Lee, D-Pa., who all joined Pearson at a campaign rally in Memphis last month.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_27716\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/squad-members-comeback-bid-thwarted-establishment-dems-notch-victory-against-socialists\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>&#8216;SQUAD&#8217; MEMBER&#8217;S COMEBACK BID THWARTED AS ESTABLISHMENT DEMS NOTCH VICTORY AGAINST SOCIALISTS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Known for his fiery, preacher-style speeches, Pearson has also received support from national left-wing groups including Justice Democrats, the Working Families Party, MoveOn and Indivisible.<\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/343\/192\/6c27e1e5-TN.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/686\/384\/6c27e1e5-TN.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/672\/378\/6c27e1e5-TN.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/1344\/756\/6c27e1e5-TN.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/931\/523\/6c27e1e5-TN.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/1862\/1046\/6c27e1e5-TN.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/720\/405\/6c27e1e5-TN.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/1440\/810\/6c27e1e5-TN.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/1200\/675\/6c27e1e5-TN.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Harris Tennessee Lawmaker Expulsion\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>The so-called &#8220;Tennessee Three&#8221; lawmakers seen pictured above. From left, Tennessee state Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, and Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, raise their fists as they walk across Fisk University campus after hearing Vice President Kamala Harris speak, Friday, April 7, 2023, in Nashville, Tennessee.\u00a0<\/span> <span>(AP Photo\/George Walker IV)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Pearson rose to national prominence in 2023 as one of the &#8220;Tennessee Three&#8221; lawmakers who participated in a gun-control protest on the state House floor following the Covenant School shooting in <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_27717\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/us\/nashville\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nashville<\/a> that killed three young kids and three adults.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Republican lawmakers subsequently expelled Pearson and fellow state Rep. Justin Jones over the protest, though they later regained their seats.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">A third Democrat, Gloria Johnson of Knoxville, avoided expulsion by a single vote, according to local media reporting.<\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/343\/192\/Tennessee-Representatives-CC.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/686\/384\/Tennessee-Representatives-CC.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/672\/378\/Tennessee-Representatives-CC.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/1344\/756\/Tennessee-Representatives-CC.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/931\/523\/Tennessee-Representatives-CC.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/1862\/1046\/Tennessee-Representatives-CC.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/720\/405\/Tennessee-Representatives-CC.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/1440\/810\/Tennessee-Representatives-CC.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/1200\/675\/Tennessee-Representatives-CC.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Tennessee lawmakers\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Tennessee state Reps. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, and Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, holding their hands up as they exit the House Chamber doors at Tennessee State Capitol Building in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, April 3, 2023.<\/span> <span>(Nicole Hester \/The Tennessean via AP)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_27718\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/jumping-ship-house-dem-finds-exit-strategy-after-scotus-ruling-shifts-advantage-gop\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>&#8216;JUMPING SHIP&#8217;: HOUSE DEM FINDS EXIT STRATEGY AFTER SCOTUS RULING SHIFTS ADVANTAGE TO GOP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The open-seat primary won by Pearson on Thursday followed a <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_27719\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/trump-allies-notch-redistricting-win-judges-find-no-smoking-gun-scrap-red-state-map\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">redrawing of Tennessee\u2019s congressional map<\/a> that divided Memphis among three Republican-leaning districts and prompted longtime Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., to retire.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Before the new map, heavily Democratic Memphis was largely kept together in the 9th District, giving Tennessee Democrats one reliable congressional seat in an otherwise deeply Republican state.<\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/343\/192\/rep-steve-cohen.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/686\/384\/rep-steve-cohen.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/672\/378\/rep-steve-cohen.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1344\/756\/rep-steve-cohen.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/931\/523\/rep-steve-cohen.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1862\/1046\/rep-steve-cohen.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/720\/405\/rep-steve-cohen.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1440\/810\/rep-steve-cohen.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1200\/675\/rep-steve-cohen.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Rep. Steve Cohen\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) questions Special Counsel Jack Smith as he testifies during a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on January 22, 2026 in Washington, DC.<\/span> <span>(Al Drago\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a href=\"https:\/\/foxnews.onelink.me\/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&amp;af_dp=foxnewsaf%3A%2F%2F&amp;af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fapps-products\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Cohen has been the lone Democrat in Tennessee\u2019s nine-member House delegation alongside eight Republicans since 2023, but the new map favors the GOP in all nine districts.<\/p>\n<p> <!----> <!----> <\/p>\n<div class=\"article-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-bio\">\n<p>Alec Schemmel is a Politics Reporter for Fox News Digital who is originally from Charlotte, North Carolina but now resides in the Washington D.C.-Baltimore Metro Area.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Squad-backed Tennessee state Rep. Justin Pearson, District 86, part of the trio of lawmakers in his state referred to as the &#8220;Tennessee Three,&#8221; won the Democratic primary Thursday in Tennessee&#8217;s newly redrawn 9th Congressional District. Pearson defeated state Sen. London Lamar, District 33, community activist Marion LaTroy&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":30904,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Tennessee.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30903","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-political-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30903","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=30903"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30903\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/30904"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=30903"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=30903"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=30903"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}