Tennessee's Republican legislature approves a new congressional map that splits the state's majority-Black district in Memphis, a move expected to favor Republicans in the 2024 midterms. The redistricting follows a Supreme Court ruling limiting racial gerrymandering protections.
Posts tagged as “The Tennessee House of Representative”
Two Tennessee Democrats, Reps. Justin Pearson and Justin Jones, have won back their legislative seats in the Tennessee House after being expelled in April for participating in a peaceful gun protest. The protest was held in response to a Nashville school shooting, and the pair will be present for the upcoming special session to discuss potential changes to the state's gun control laws. Their victory is a sign of the importance of gun control reform in Tennessee.
Roy Herron, a Tennessee state lawmaker and former chairperson of the state Democratic Party, passed away on Sunday due to injuries sustained in a jet ski accident. He was a champion of education and healthcare, and a strong supporter of the Tennessee Promise. His death has been met with an outpouring of grief from his colleagues and constituents, with Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee saying, “He will be remembered for his tireless work on behalf of his constituents and his commitment to making Tennessee a better place.”
Scotty Campbell, a Tennessee State Representative, resigned from his House seat after an Ethics Subcommittee report revealed he had violated the legislature's workplace discrimination and harassment policy. The report did not provide any details on the specifics of the violation, and Campbell has not commented on the situation. The House of Representatives has a zero-tolerance policy for workplace discrimination and harassment, and the House Ethics Subcommittee is responsible for investigating any complaints of violations.
Tennessee House Republicans are facing internal strife after voting to expel two Black Democratic representatives, but sparing an older white woman for protesting lax gun laws. An audio recording reveals Republican lawmakers aggressively confronting their caucus members who voted against Johnson's expulsion, leading to accusations of racism and drawing national attention to the GOP-led House. The expulsion votes have sparked concerns about the party's chances in the 2022 elections and highlighted the need for increased diversity in the state's legislature.
The Shelby County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to return expelled Tennessee Democratic Rep. Justin Pearson back to the state House on Wednesday. The confirmation of Pearson's reappointment was met with cheers and applause from the crowd, and support from both sides of the aisle. Pearson expressed his gratitude for the support he has received, and his return to the House of Representatives is a victory for gun reform advocates in the state of Tennessee.
The Shelby County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to reappoint Justin Pearson and Justin Jones to the Tennessee House of Representatives, after the legislature had voted to expel them for participating in a protest against gun violence. The two lawmakers have vowed to continue their fight for gun reform, and their reinstatement is a reminder that the people's voices cannot be silenced.
Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones, who was expelled from the GOP-dominated House of Representatives last week, is shocked at reports of legislators threatening local officials with funding cuts if he is reappointed. Rep. Gloria Johnson, who also participated in the protest, survived the vote and was not expelled. The Metro Council is meeting Monday to consider reappointing Rep. Jones, and the outcome of the meeting will show whether they stand up to the threats made by the state legislature.