State Rep. Justin Pearson concedes in Tennessee’s District 9 congressional race

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Democrat Justin Pearson conceded Wednesday in the U.S. House District 9 race, which Republican Brent Taylor won by a slim margin, about 2,500 votes.

Pearson shared a statement thanking his supporters and adding that his work is not over.

“Thank you to everyone who knocked doors, made phone calls, encouraged voters in the rain, and poured your heart into changing our state. Your work has not been in vain. This is not the end of our movement, but only the beginning,” he said.

About 2,500 votes decided the race. That is around 1% of the votes.

“Democrats did not want to give that seat up,” Taylor, the congressman-elect, said as he claimed victory at his watch party Tuesday night.

“No one thought or imagined that it would be as close as this race is right now,” Pearson said. He went on to say, “This was a historic campaign, a district that Trump won by 21 points. It swung so significantly because of the organizing and the work that we have been able to do together.”

Dr. Marvin King is a political science and African American studies professor at the University of Mississippi. He said this narrow race may change the future of redistricting.

“The county went overwhelmingly Democratic, yet because of this new district, especially District 9, which goes into the Nashville suburb. As of this morning, it seems that the Republicans may be able to hold on to that, but far closer than anyone expected,” said Dr. King. “So, I imagine both parties may rethink their redistricting strategies after this.”

For the first time in decades, Memphis will be represented in Washington by Republicans. Redistricting split Memphis into three districts, and Republicans won all three seats Tuesday.

“And he worked hard. We all worked hard. But I believe the voters in this case chose correctly. They chose confidence over chaos,” Taylor said.

Although Pearson accepted the results and thanked his supporters and referred to the redrawn congressional map.

“I accept the results of this election for Congress. But, I will not concede to rigged maps, attacks on democracy in Tennessee, or to billionaire control of our political system. I began this race with the hope of bringing love to the center of partisan politics—and we have done that,” he said.

At his watch party, Pearson spoke about why voting was important to his campaign.

“Gerrymandering can be beat, when people vote. What we are seeing what significant turnout and investment can do,” Pearson said.

Pearson won a state race for Tennessee House District 86 and will stay in that seat.

Taylor won both a state Senate seat and the congressional race. He said he plans on keeping the congressional seat. So, the Shelby County Commission will have the choice to select an interim senator.

The governor must call for a special election and set an election date within 107 days of issuing the order to fill the Senate seat.

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