Justin J. Pearson is defeated by Brent Taylor in Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District race

Justin J. Pearson lost after leading a progressive campaign advocating for Medicare for All, living wages, and gun safety laws.

It doesn’t look like Justin J. Pearson is headed to Congress despite a buzzy run.

On Tuesday, Nov. 3, the 31-year-old Democratic state representative was defeated by Republican state Sen. Brent Taylor in Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District, after only securing 32.21% of the vote compared to Taylor who received 65.68%, per AP News.

The race for the Memphis-born activist and state representative, whose fiery speeches and viral moments have made him a nationally recognized political figure, marks a remarkable ascent for a young politician who has faced significant opposition along the way. 

As some may recall, he first captured national attention in 2023 as one of the “Tennessee Three,” a trio of Democratic lawmakers who protested for gun reform following a deadly school shooting in Nashville. He was subsequently expelled from the state House alongside Rep. Justin Jones before he was eventually reinstated and reelected by voters. His congressional loss on Tuesday also comes after Republicans redrew Tennessee’s historically Democratic, majority-Black 9th Congressional District in an effort to improve their party’s electoral prospects.

Pearson ran on a platform focused on economic justice, Medicare for All, living wages, stronger gun safety laws, and greater environmental protections, including restrictions on larger data centers. He also managed to gain support from major names in the political sphere, including former Vice President Kamala Harris.

“Justin J. Pearson’s leadership is needed to meet this moment in Tennessee and across our country,” Harris said per Fox Chattanooga. “Whether at the Capitol building in Nashville or at the White House, I have seen Justin’s courage in fighting for the people over the years.”

On Monday, in a post on Facebook, Pearson said, “This election isn’t about Red or Blue; it is about the direction we want TN to go in.”