$24.5K
AUG 7, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Current roleFormer State Representative
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
Age31 years old (Jan 7, 1995)
GenderMale
LocationTennessee
BackgroundPolitician
EducationBowdoin College (B.A.)
Notable personal detailsJustin Jamal Pearson is an American activist and Democratic politician who has served in the Tennessee House of Representatives for the 86th district since 2023. He is a co-founder of Memphis Community Against Pollution and gained national attention in 2023 after being expelled and then reappointed to the Tennessee House following a gun-violence protest. Pearson is a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Tennessee’s 9th congressional district in the 2026 election cycle. He earned a B.A. from Bowdoin College.
Supports higher taxes on the very wealthy (including a billionaire tax) and higher taxes on large capital gains and incomes for the ultra-rich to fund expanded social programs; supports policies to raise workers’ incomes such as a higher federal minimum wage and Medicare for All.
Supports Medicare for All and policies to expand healthcare access. The campaign platform lists healthcare as a priority and explicitly calls for Medicare for All.
Supports dismantling or major reform of current federal immigration enforcement agencies (including calling to abolish ICE and replace current Border Patrol), emphasizes protecting immigrants and opposing increased local/state enforcement measures. Advocates for approaches prioritizing immigrant rights and limiting enforcement expansion.
Supports protecting abortion and reproductive rights and opposes Tennessee’s restrictive reproductive-health laws; has emphasized changing state law to protect victims of sexual violence and has voted against legislation that would further restrict access to abortion and gender-affirming care.
Justin J. Pearson is an environmental justice advocate who has led efforts to block fossil-fuel infrastructure in Memphis, fought a proposed crude oil pipeline, and opposed new gas-turbine permits that would increase local air pollution. His public statements and awards emphasize climate justice, clean air and water, and support for policies and actions that limit fossil-fuel projects in frontline communities.
Supports strong gun safety measures including banning or restricting assault-style weapons, repealing permitless carry, expanding extreme risk protection orders, and other regulatory steps to reduce gun violence. Has sponsored or introduced legislation on assault-weapon bans, ERPOs (red flag laws), and repeal of permitless carry and has been a prominent participant in gun-control protests.
Pearson’s yes price fell from 86% to 81% over the last day even as the post-redistricting / Cohen-exit narrative remains intact, suggesting traders are trimming some of the earlier certainty without a new reversal catalyst. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/e1512c0a65ba6de5d0ec0c15e3831a95?utm_source=openai))
Justin Pearson's odds are now 69%, past the previous high of 51%.
Justin Pearson’s win probability has climbed to 54% from 18% an hour ago, while Steve Cohen remains at 43%; AP’s latest Tennessee redistricting coverage keeps this a live, trader-relevant race as the new map reshapes the district.
Justin Pearson is running for Congress in Tennessee’s newly redrawn 9th Congressional District, and his campaign is being shaped by a major Republican redistricting push that weakened Memphis’s Democratic base and eliminated the state’s only Black-majority congressional district. He has continued campaigning despite the map changes and the exit of Rep. Steve Cohen from the race. Pearson has also drawn high-profile support, including public backing from Kamala Harris and support from the progressive group Indivisible. Meanwhile, Democrats and other candidates are trying to block the new maps in court before the primaries.
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
2026
LatestCycle 2026
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
