Tennessee Reps. Justin Pearson and Justin Jones have reclaimed their legislative seats after they were expelled for involvement in a gun control protest on the House floor. The young Black lawmakers had been reinstated by local officials after being booted from the GOP-dominated Statehouse, but only on an interim basis. They advanced through a special election to fully reclaim their positions. Both faced opponents in districts that heavily favor Democrats. The two had become Democratic heroes as members of the “Tennessee Three,” a trio of lawmakers who this spring demonstrated in the House chamber with a bullhorn and joined protesters’ chants and cries for action on gun control.
