After securing the Democratic Party’s nomination for the 9th Congressional District on Thursday, State Representative Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) named SpaceXAI owner Elon Musk in his Thursday victory speech. In a post to social media, Pearson said the victory came despite “attacks” from Musk and his company.
“Exactly 61 years from the signing of the Voting Rights Act, we won our primary despite a redistricting blow that cracked Memphis’s representation in Congress,” wrote Pearson in a post to X, including a portion of his victory speech.
He added that he won despite, “attacks on our community from Elon Musk and his toxic data centers, [and] attempts to divide us.”
Exactly 61 years from the signing of the Voting Rights Act, we won our primary despite a redistricting blow that cracked Memphis’s representation in Congress, attacks on our community from
Elon Musk and his toxic data centers, & attempts to divide us.https://t.co/KsPwMJR4HR pic.twitter.com/U0jMCQekml— Justin J. Pearson (@Justinjpearson) August 7, 2026
Pearson also referred to Musk in his victory speech itself, referencing recent reporting that claims Musk’s America PAC will spend between $100 and $120 million on door-knocking and get-out-the-vote efforts to boost Republicans during the 2026 midterms.
“I will always put you first,” Pearson told a crowd of supporters. “That’s why Elon Musk said he’s going to put $120 million behind Republican candidates.”
Pearson also claimed that his Republican opponent, State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis), “received $10,000 from xAI and SpaceX,” but The Tennessee Star could not find any record of such a donation with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), including in the reports submitted by Taylor, the political action committee created for SpaceX, or America PAC.
“That’s why Brent Taylor has received $10,000 from xAI and SpaceX,” said Pearson. “Because he’s a spineless boot licker who sells out.”
Pearson’s references of Musk’s company came days after the Democrat was profiled by German-owned Politico Magazine, which described him as the face of a “New Luddite” movement due to his opposition to Musk and artificial intelligence (AI) data centers.
“Data centers are built by people,” Pearson told the outlet. “And those people and how they exist and operate in the world are a threat to humanity.”
Pearson won the Democratic nomination in commanding fashion, securing almost two-thirds of the vote. His nearest opponent, State Senator London Lamar (D-Memphis), received just 24.3 percent of the vote.
Despite most analysts determining the 9th Congressional District is now solidly Republican, in June Pearson said that he was confident he could win the newly-redrawn district.
“They know that this is going to be one of the most competitive seats in the United States of America already,” Pearson told Democratic election lawyer Marc Elias. “We haven’t even got through the primary, and they’re going to have to spend millions and millions and millions of dollars to try and keep it.”
Watch Pearson’s full victory speech:
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Tom Pappert is a 2025 recipient of the Dao Prize and the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star. He also reports for the Star News Network. Follow Tom on X. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Justin Pearson” by Justin Pearson.
Name calling…try to get past grade school Mr Pearson.
He runs that mouth and that’s it, work wise does nothing . Typical ! A Jasmine Crocket repeat!
AOC with an Afro! This guy is a disgrace. He needs to move to New York.