On April 12, Justin Pearson, a Democrat from Shelby County, Tennessee, was reappointed to his role as representative in the Tennessee House. Pearson was one of two Democratic lawmakers expelled from the Tennessee House on April 6. 

Expulsion had only been used twice since the Civil War before Jones’ and Pearson’s expulsion. The expulsion came after Pearson, Justin Jones, and Gloria Johnson led a protest on the floor of the Tennessee House calling for gun control legislation in the wake of the Covenant School shooting. Following the protest, a vote was held to expel all three lawmakers. While Johnson was able to retain her position as representative, Pearson and Jones were expelled. Many Democrats accused the Republican-led house of being racist against Jones and Pearson, since they are the youngest Black representatives in Tennessee, and Johnson – who was not expelled – is white. 

Justin Jones was reappointed on April 10 by a unanimous vote of 32-0 of the Nashville City Council. Pearson was reinstated unanimously as well by a vote of 7-0 in favor of reinstatement from the Shelby County Board of Commissioners.

Pearson and Jones will have to win their special elections in November 2024 to keep their seats in the long-term. The odds seem to be in their favor, as their districts have a strong Democratic base.