From Mother Jones · Sophie Hurwitz · · 1m 30s
GOP Gerrymandering Narrowly Succeeds in Tennessee
Tennessee's GOP gerrymandering barely won the ninth district election after Supreme Court ruling.
In brief
Tennessee's GOP gerrymandering barely won the ninth district election after Supreme Court ruling. Republican Brent Taylor narrowly defeated Democrat Justin Pearson in Tennessee's ninth district by 2,500 votes after gerrymandering. Originally reported by Mother Jones.
Gerrymandering After Supreme Court Ruling
Tennessee legislature split the state's only Democratic and Black majority-minority district into three gerrymandered Congressional districts following Supreme Court Louisiana v. Callais ruling.
Tennessee Ninth District Election Results
Republican Brent Taylor defeated Democrat Justin Pearson by about 2,500 votes with 99 percent of votes counted in the ninth district.
Justin Pearson's Background
Pearson, a Black progressive elected in 2023 to represent Memphis in the Tennessee House of Representatives, rose to national prominence as one of the 'Tennessee Three' after being removed from office for gun reform protests.
Brent Taylor's Campaign Issues
Taylor, endorsed by President Donald Trump, campaigned on hard-line conservative Christian values and data center opposition while facing allegations of sending nude photos.
Taylor's Record on Minority Voters
In four years in the Tennessee State Senate, Taylor pushed through laws that superseded local politicians' power with Republican supermajority support.
Democratic Upset in Fourth District
Victoria Broderick defeated eight-term GOP incumbent Scott DesJarlais in Tennessee's fourth district south of Nashville.
Pearson's Concession Statement
Pearson stated that every county in the district swung between 10 and 30 points toward Democrats to combat big money corruption and data centers.
The short version
Republican Brent Taylor narrowly defeated Democrat Justin Pearson in Tennessee's ninth district by 2,500 votes after gerrymandering.
