Both expelled members of ‘Tennessee Three’ win back their state House seats

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.