Community organizer and environmental activist Justin Pearson won the Democratic primary in the special election to succeed the late Rep. Barbara Cooper (D-Memphis), who died in October at age 93. Under Tennessee law, Cooper’s name remained on the Nov. 8 ballot and she won, creating a vacant seat.
Pearson won more than half of the 2,359 votes cast in the crowded nine-candidate primary, with former County Commissioner, Julian T. Bolton, coming in second place. As no Republican or Independent qualified for the general election, the Shelby County Commission voted unanimously to appoint Pearson to fill the District 86 seat until the election results are certified. Pearson is set to be sworn in on Monday, Feb. 6.
Welcome, Representative Pearson! We look forward to working with you!
