Tennessee state Sen. Brent Taylor secured the Republican nomination for the state's 9th Congressional District on Thursday, setting up a high-stakes general election contest against Democratic state Rep. Justin Pearson. The matchup comes after the district was redrawn earlier this year to give the GOP a clear advantage, according to projections from Decision Desk HQ.
Taylor, who earned former President Trump's endorsement, defeated three other Republican hopefuls: small business owner Charlotte Bergmann, retired Army Sgt. Jeremy Thompson, and state Rep. Todd Warner. On the Democratic side, Pearson outlasted former healthcare executive Jim Torino, state Sen. London Lamar, and perennial candidate M. LaTroya A-Williams.
The fall race is widely expected to favor Taylor, given the newly configured district's Republican lean. The redrawn map, passed by Tennessee's GOP-controlled legislature in May, stretches across more than half of the state's southern border and curves into Middle Tennessee, splitting Shelby County—home to Memphis—among three congressional districts.
Pearson gained national prominence as one of the "Tennessee Three," a group of lawmakers who staged a gun control protest on the state House floor in 2023. He and then-state Rep. Justin Jones were expelled but later reinstated. Pearson's campaign has focused on progressive issues, but the new district's demographics present a steep challenge.
The 9th District previously encompassed the southwestern corner of Tennessee around Memphis and voted for Vice President Kamala Harris by 21 points in 2024, according to The Downballot. However, Republicans redrew the lines at Trump's urging after the Supreme Court's ruling that weakened the Voting Rights Act. The new map survived legal challenges, with a federal panel allowing it to take effect for the midterms.
Rep. Steve Cohen, the longtime Democratic incumbent, had initially planned to seek reelection but announced he would not run again after the new lines were adopted. His retirement opened the door for this competitive—if lopsided—general election.
Taylor, a former mayor of Collierville and current state senator, has campaigned on conservative priorities including border security, energy independence, and curbing federal overreach. His victory adds to a broader trend in Tennessee, where Trump's influence has reshaped primary outcomes following the redistricting upheaval.
The general election will also feature other key races, including a rematch between Sen. Bill Hagerty and Democrat Bradshaw in the Senate race, and a governor's race where Marsha Blackburn secured the GOP nod. These contests will test whether the redrawn maps and Trump's backing can deliver a Republican sweep in the Volunteer State.
With November approaching, Taylor's campaign is expected to leverage the district's new configuration, while Pearson will likely rally progressive voters and national attention. The outcome could further shift Tennessee's congressional delegation to the right, cementing the state's Republican dominance.
