Tennessee voters went to the polls on Thursday to vote for congressional candidates.
The state's congressional lines were reshaped by GOP-friendly redistricting that squeezed out the state's lone Democratic House lawmaker. The redrawn map heavily favors the Republican party and has divided Memphis among three Republican-leaning districts.
Prior to the redistricting, the heavily Democratic Memphis area was largely kept together in the 9th District, providing Tennessee Democrats with one reliable congressional seat in a deeply Republican state. The redrawing of the map prompted longtime Democratic Representative Steve Cohen to retire.
9th District Democratic Primary Results
State Representative Justin Pearson, a member of the 'Tennessee Three' trio of lawmakers, won the Democratic primary in the newly redrawn 9th Congressional District. Pearson defeated State Senator London Lamar, community activist Marion LaTroy Alexandria-Williams, and attorney Jim Torino.
The size of Justin Pearson's campaign warchest, which outpaced his Democratic opponents.
Pearson received backing from members of 'the Squad', including U.S. Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, and Summer Lee. Support also came from national left-wing groups, including Justice Democrats, the Working Families Party, MoveOn, and Indivisible.
Additional Candidate Backing
In the 5th Congressional District of Tennessee, U.S. President Donald Trump has endorsed incumbent Representative Andy Ogles. Governor Bill Lee has also backed his former state colleague.
Decision Desk HQ projects that State Senator Brent Taylor will face off against Justin Pearson for the House seat of retiring Representative Steve Cohen in the fall. Brent Taylor is backed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
