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TN · Officeholder

Justin Pearson

DState Representative · District 86

On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: U.S. House · Tennessee's 9th District

On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: Tennessee House District 86

Biography

Justin Pearson is a Memphis state representative, first elected in a 2023 special election, and a community organizer who co-founded an environmental advocacy group.[2][4] He drew national attention in April 2023 when the Tennessee House voted to expel him after a gun-control protest on the House floor; the Shelby County Commission reinstated him days later, and he was re-elected in 2024.[1][3] He won the August 6, 2026 Democratic primary for the 9th District and says he is running on affordability, Medicare for All, and holding data-center operators accountable.[3][5]

Pearson was born on January 7, 1995, in Memphis, according to the Tennessee General Assembly and Wikipedia, and his campaign says he is the fourth of five boys born to teenage parents.[2][4][3] His campaign website says that at age 15 he petitioned the school board to provide textbooks to his classmates.[3] He graduated from Mitchell High School in Memphis and from Bowdoin College in 2017, where Wikipedia reports he majored in Government & Legal Studies.[1][2][4]

Pearson has worked as a community organizer and founded a nonprofit organization.[1][2] In 2020 he co-founded Memphis Community Against Pollution, one of the local groups involved in the effort that ended plans for the Byhalia Pipeline, according to Wikipedia.[4] The legislature lists among his honors the 2024 Truman Center Award for Exceptional Moral Courage in Public Service and the 2023 National Urban League Freedom Fighters Award.[2]

The Shelby County Commission appointed Pearson acting state representative for District 86 on January 24, 2023, and he won the March 14, 2023 special election to formally take the seat.[1] On April 6, 2023, the Tennessee House voted 69–26 to expel him after he participated in a gun-control protest on the House floor, and the Shelby County Commission voted to reinstate him on April 12, 2023.[1] He won the August 3, 2023 special election with 94.0% of the vote and was re-elected in 2024.[1][3]

Pearson announced his congressional campaign on October 8, 2025, and won the August 6, 2026 Democratic primary for the 9th District with 65.8% of the vote against three opponents.[3][5] He lives in Memphis with his wife, Oceana R. Gilliam-Pearson, according to his campaign website.[3]

  1. 1.Justin Pearson (Tennessee) · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  2. 2.Representative Justin J. Pearson · Tennessee General Assembly Official record
  3. 3.Get to Know Justin J. Pearson · Justin J. Pearson for U.S. Congress Candidate's own words
  4. 4.Justin J. Pearson · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
  5. 5.Tennessee's 9th Congressional District election, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.

On the ballot

Tennessee House District 86

Justin Pearson is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for Tennessee House District 86 as D. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.

Ballotpedia ↗

Votes by issue

Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Democrats voted. How topics are assigned

Where they stood out

Voted against most of their party on 5 of 503 party-divided votes on file.

Most often on: Rights & public safety (2), Transportation (1), Education & families (1)

  • Election Laws - As introduced, requires the legislative body of each municipality to change the date of municipal elections to coincide with the August primary or November general election; makes municipal elections partisan; standardizes…

    What it does: Present law authorizes a municipality to have their elections coincide with August or November general elections, or the dates of an election for the legislative body of a municipality can vary depending on a variety…

    Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 20–1, Republicans 0–70

    Apr 21, 2026Official record ↗

  • Driver Licenses - As enacted, requires driver license station staff to inquire of applicants whether the applicant would like a driver license that complies with the federal REAL ID Act of 2005 or does not comply with such act; makes other…

    What it does: Present law provides the application requirements for a driver license, instruction permit, intermediate driver license, and photo identification card. This bill requires the staff at a driver license station to inqui…

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 10–11, Republicans 63–7

    Apr 21, 2026Official record ↗

  • State Government - As enacted, requires each governmental entity to revise any existing ordinance, resolution, rule, policy, and procedure that includes a reference to a natural person's sex or gender to state that those terms are defined as…

    What it does: ON MARCH 30, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 1271, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, require each state and local governmental entity to revise any existing ordinance,…

    Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 20–2, Republicans 0–66

    Mar 30, 2026Official record ↗

  • Education - As enacted, allows student performance on the Classic Learning Test to be used alongside the ACT and SAT for various purposes; makes various changes to home school testing requirements and opportunities available to home school…

    What it does: Subject to exceptions for home school students who are enrolled in a church school, present law requires a parent-teacher conducting a home school to comply with administration by the commissioner of education, or by…

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 2–16, Republicans 65–4

    Mar 26, 2026Official record ↗

  • Health Care - As enacted, enacts the "Fertility Treatment and Contraceptive Protection Act." - Amends TCA Title 63 and Title 68. Companion bill has been assigned Public Chapter Number 247 by the Secretary of State.

    What it does: This bill enacts the "Fertility Treatment and Contraceptive Protection Act," which provides that (i) an individual has a right to engage in activities associated with fertility treatment and contraception; (ii) the la…

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 7–16, Republicans 75–0

    Apr 10, 2025Official record ↗

How this is counted

Their votes on the most contested roll calls

The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank

See all their split votes

Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.

HJR 8 · TN HOUSE

Memorials, Death - U.S. Senator James Ralph Sasser -

NoVOTED

Motion: REFER TO COMMITTEE

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 66–19·Procedural·May 6, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 47 · TN HOUSE

Education - As enacted, authorizes local boards of education and public charter school governing bodies to allow schools in the LEA or the public charter school, as applicable, to display the Ten Commandments, the first sentence of the…

NoVOTED

Motion: MOTION TO ADOPT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT

ON MARCH 19, 2026, THE SENATE SUBSTITUTED HOUSE BILL 47 FOR SENATE BILL 303, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1, AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 47, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 adds a preamble and rewrites the substantive provisions of this bill to require each local board of education and governing body of a public charter school to require all schools under their administration to display the Ten Commandments, the first sentence of the second paragraph of the preamble to the Declaration of Independence, and the preamble to the United States Constitution in a prominent location in each school building in order to…

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 70–17·Substantive·Apr 23, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 1707 · TN HOUSE

Immigration - As enacted, requires, until February 1, 2029, each court to cooperate with the U.S. department of homeland security and federal immigration authorities acting in the enforcement of federal immigration law; authorizes, until…

NoVOTED

Motion: MOTION TO ADOPT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT

ON APRIL 2, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 1707, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, require each court to cooperate with the United States department of homeland security ("department") and federal immigration authorities acting in the enforcement of federal immigration law. This amendment authorizes a judge who obstructs lawful operations by the department or such authorities to be referred to the board of judicial conduct for proceedings and any findings by the board that the judge committed judicial misconduct may be cause for removal.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 72–17·Substantive·Apr 23, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 1708 · TN HOUSE

Motor Vehicles - As enacted, adds certain language comprehension requirements for certain driver licenses; requires documentation as a U.S. citizen or lawfully permitted in the U.S. for certain vehicle registrations; requires documentation…

NoVOTED

Motion: MOTION TO ADOPT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT

The Uniform Classified and Commercial Driver License Act of 1988 requires the department of safety to examine every applicant for a driver license, intermediate driver license, learner permit, temporary driver license, temporary learner permit, and temporary intermediate driver license. Such examination may include a written examination. WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS If an applicant for a driver license or intermediate driver license is unable to speak and read in English, then this bill authorizes the written examination required for licensure to be administered in a language other than English.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 69–17·Substantive·Apr 23, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 2314 · TN HOUSE

Obscenity and Pornography - As enacted, prohibits the issuance of a license to operate certain adult-oriented establishments unless certain signage is posted. - Amends TCA Title 7, Chapter 51 and Title 39. HB2314 has been assigned Public…

NoVOTED

Motion: MESSAGE CALENDAR 2 MOTION TO ADOPT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT

ON APRIL 6, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2314, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 makes the following changes: • Removes the requirement for signs posted at each entrance of the establishment no smaller than 8 1/2" x 11" to have the required language printed in at least 48-point type in boldface, block letters, centered on the sign, and that the letters must be black on a white background.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 83–10·Substantive·Apr 23, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 2366 · TN HOUSE

Tourism - As enacted, requires the department of tourist development to promulgate rules designating tourism development zones in this state as economic protection zones; places certain limitations on a local government blocking streets or…

NoVOTED

Motion: MOTION TO ADOPT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT 2

ON APRIL 6, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENTS #1 AND 2, AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2366, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 makes the following changes:  Changes the definition for the term "tourism development zone" to have the same meaning as the one in present law.  Removes the prohibition for a local government to ingress or egress into a tourism development zone by private or commercial vehicles or pedestrian traffic.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 68–13·Substantive·Apr 23, 2026Roll call ↗
SB 1493 · TN HOUSE

Computers and Electronic Processing - As enacted, requires TACIR to study artificial intelligence and submit a report to the governor and both speakers by January 31, 2027. - Amends TCA Title 29; Title 33; Title 39 and Title 47. Companion…

YesVOTED

Motion: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 4 BY ZACHARY PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION

This bill creates a Class A felony offense for an individual, for-profit corporation, nonprofit corporation, or other business entity to knowingly train artificial intelligence to do any of the following:  Encourage or otherwise support the act of suicide.  Encourage or otherwise support the act of criminal homicide.  Provide emotional support, including through open-ended conversations with a user.  Develop an emotional relationship with, or otherwise act as a companion to, an individual.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Passed 81–7·Substantive·Apr 23, 2026Roll call ↗
SB 1585 · TN HOUSE

Education - As enacted, revises the assessment testing requirements for students who participate in the education savings account (ESA) program. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 9; Title 12; Title 48; Title 49 and Title 67. Companion bill has…

NoVOTED

Motion: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION

ON APRIL 22, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1. SENATE BILL 1585, AS AMENDED, FAILED TO RECEIVE A CONSTITUTIONAL MAJORITY. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to revise the assessment testing requirements for students who participate in the education savings account (ESA) program. Present law requires, as a condition of participating in the ESA program, participating students in grades three through 11 must be annually administered the TCAP tests for math and English language arts, or successor tests authorized by the state board of education for math and English language arts.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 54–39·Substantive·Apr 23, 2026Roll call ↗
SB 1585 · TN HOUSE

Education - As enacted, revises the assessment testing requirements for students who participate in the education savings account (ESA) program. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 9; Title 12; Title 48; Title 49 and Title 67. Companion bill has…

NoVOTED

Motion: REGULAR CALENDAR PREVIOUS QUESTION PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION

ON APRIL 22, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1. SENATE BILL 1585, AS AMENDED, FAILED TO RECEIVE A CONSTITUTIONAL MAJORITY. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to revise the assessment testing requirements for students who participate in the education savings account (ESA) program. Present law requires, as a condition of participating in the ESA program, participating students in grades three through 11 must be annually administered the TCAP tests for math and English language arts, or successor tests authorized by the state board of education for math and English language arts.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 63–29·Substantive·Apr 23, 2026Roll call ↗
SB 1585 · TN HOUSE

Education - As enacted, revises the assessment testing requirements for students who participate in the education savings account (ESA) program. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 9; Title 12; Title 48; Title 49 and Title 67. Companion bill has…

YesVOTED

Motion: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 8 BY PEARSON PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION

ON APRIL 22, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1. SENATE BILL 1585, AS AMENDED, FAILED TO RECEIVE A CONSTITUTIONAL MAJORITY. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to revise the assessment testing requirements for students who participate in the education savings account (ESA) program. Present law requires, as a condition of participating in the ESA program, participating students in grades three through 11 must be annually administered the TCAP tests for math and English language arts, or successor tests authorized by the state board of education for math and English language arts.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Failed 19–72·Substantive·Apr 23, 2026Roll call ↗

Showing 10 of 1000 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.