Pearson and Jones could both be back in the Tennessee state House less than a week after Republicans voted to expel the Democrats.
Justin Pearson could be headed back to the Tennessee House of Representatives only days after his fellow expelled Democrat Justin Jones made a swift return.
Republican lawmakers voted to expel Pearson and Jones on Thursday for breaching decorum by speaking out of turn during a House session the previous week, when they participated in a youth-led gun-control protest that took place in the wake of Nashville’s Covenant School shooting. Jones was sworn back into office on Monday, shortly after the Nashville Metropolitan Council held a unanimous vote to reinstate him.
The Shelby County Board of Commissioners is set to hold a vote on reinstating Pearson Wednesday, raising the possibility that both Democrats could return to the state House less than a week after they were expelled. Due to the expulsions, Pearson and Jones’ seats are being filled on an interim basis and will both feature in special elections to be announced at a later date.
