Full Breakdown
Projected Nominees for Tennessee’s New 9th Congressional District
8/7/2026, 9:37:32 AM
Primary Outcomes and Candidate Leads
State Representative Justin J. Pearson (D-Memphis) leads the Democratic primary with over 22,000 votes, while State Senator Brent Taylor (R-31st District) tops the Republican primary with over 23,000 votes. Both candidates are slated to face each other in the general election on November 3.
Redistricting and District Geography
The newly drawn U.S. House District 9 stretches from Shelby County through Decatur and Hardin Counties, encompassing urban, suburban, and rural communities. Tennessee’s recent congressional redistricting split the Memphis metropolitan area among Districts 5, 8, and 9, a change Pearson has described as an “attack on local Black communities” that previously formed the district’s majority.
Candidate Platforms and Policy Critiques
Pearson, who has served District 86 in the Tennessee House since winning a 2022 special election, argues that funds allocated to the Memphis Safe Task Force should be redirected toward housing, education, and medical assistance. He also opposes the Republican-sponsored Tennessee School Accountability Act, which enabled a state takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools.
Taylor supports the new district boundaries, citing reduced crime and improvements to education.
Official Statements & Responses
Pearson told Shelby County residents at a June forum that he will remain “proximate” through town halls and community gatherings, emphasizing that “your voice matters.” In the 2025 General Assembly, he condemned the school-takeover legislation as “wrong, unjust, and hurting students.”
Taylor, speaking after the primary, highlighted lower crime rates in Memphis and positive feedback from Hardin County residents, asserting that the city’s efforts have “made Memphis matter.” He reiterated his commitment to the district’s conservative agenda in his campaign announcement.
Verbatim Quotes
- “If we were given the money that they wasted on this ‘unsafe task force,’ we could have provided more housing, improved our education, helped with medical expenses for families, and actually benefited our community,” — Representative Justin J. Pearson
- “In Memphis, the crime is down. We have taken steps to improve our education system. And Hardin County—and these are comments from people of Hardin County—they said we are better off because of the effort that you’ve done in Memphis to make Memphis matter,” — Brent Taylor, state senator
- “I’m running for Tennessee’s Ninth Congressional District to stand with President Trump and cement Tennessee’s conservative legacy for generations to come,” — Sen. Taylor, state senator
