MoveOn is proud to endorse Justin J. Pearson for Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District!
Leadership and Experience
Justin J. Pearson is a lifelong champion for justice, born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. Raised in a family that was financially poor but spiritually rich, Justin learned the power of advocacy at just 15 years old when he successfully petitioned his local school board to secure textbooks and AP courses for his neglected high school. After graduating from Bowdoin College, he returned home to fight for his community, co-founding Memphis Community Against Pollution (MCAP). Through grassroots people power, Justin successfully led the charge to defeat two billion-dollar oil companies attempting to build a crude oil pipeline through historic Black neighborhoods in Southwest Memphis.
Elected to the Tennessee General Assembly as a State Representative in 2023, Justin quickly became a national figure for his unyielding defense of democracy. Following a tragic mass shooting in Nashville, he and his colleagues famously stood up to the NRA and Republican supermajority to demand gun safety reform. Though retaliatory lawmakers undemocratically expelled him from his seat, the people of Memphis overwhelmingly reelected him with 94% of the vote.Now, Justin is bringing his “Movement for Justice Rooted in Love” to the federal stage, running for the U.S. House of Representatives to challenge the wealthy status quo and provide a bold, proximate voice for working-class families.
How he’ll help your community:
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Ending the Gun Violence Epidemic: Having written more gun safety legislation than nearly anyone in his state, and having personally lost his brother to firearm suicide, Justin will fight relentlessly in Congress for common-sense gun control to protect our children and communities from violence.
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Environmental and Climate Justice: Justin knows firsthand how corporate polluters target working-class neighborhoods. He will fight for federal protections to guarantee clean air, safe soil, and untainted drinking water, continuing his record of shutting down toxic industrial facilities.
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Dignity for Working-Class Families: Justin firmly believes that the current system is rigged for the wealthiest few.He will advocate for stronger labor rights, robust protections for unions, and a substantial increase to the federal minimum wage so that hard work translates into a thriving wage.
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Combatting Poverty and Crime: Rejecting out-of-touch politics, Justin focuses on the root causes of systemic issues. He will champion federal investments into economic development, public transit, and affordable housing to dismantle the economic strangulation driving community crime.
His position on key issues
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Healthcare Equity: Backed by national progressive movements, Justin treats healthcare as a fundamental human right. He is a strong supporter of Medicare for All to ensure that medical access is dictated by need, not corporate profit margins.
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Ending Corporate Influence: Justin refuses to let billionaires and corporate PACs buy representation. His campaign is entirely people-powered, centered on organizing, mobilizing, and activating small-dollar individual donors to preserve authentic democracy.
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Standing Up to Authoritarianism: Grounded in faith and civil rights history, Justin is committed to building a government that resists authoritarian threats and white supremacy, ensuring federal power protects vulnerable and marginalized neighbors.
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Accountability in Public Utilities: Building on his local victories against unfair utility contracts that price-gouge residents, Justin advocates for federal oversight to prevent public resources from becoming corporate cash cows at the expense of everyday consumers.
To learn more about Justin, visit his website: https://www.votejustinj.com/