Squad-backed 'Tennessee Three' state lawmaker wins primary in newly redrawn district

Key Points:

• Tennessee state Rep. Justin Pearson, part of the progressive "Tennessee Three," won the Democratic primary for Tennessee's newly redrawn 9th Congressional District and will face Republican Brent Taylor in November.
• Pearson defeated opponents including state Sen. London Lamar and community activist Marion LaTroy Alexandria-Williams, benefiting from significant campaign fundraising and endorsements from prominent "Squad" members like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
• Pearson gained national attention in 2023 for his role in a gun-control protest following the Covenant School shooting, which led to his temporary expulsion from the state House before he was reinstated.
• The redistricting of Tennessee's congressional map split Memphis into three Republican-leaning districts, leading to the retirement of longtime Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen and creating a more challenging environment for Democrats in the state.
• Tennessee's new congressional map favors Republicans in all nine districts, with Cohen being the only Democrat in the state's House delegation since 2023.