The Tennessee Secretary of State published a final list of candidates who had returned petition signatures to qualify for the ballot under the newly passed congressional map, revealing State Senator London Lamar (D-Memphis) submitted the necessary paperwork to compete with State Representative Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) for the Democratic nomination to represent the newly redrawn 9th Congressional District.
News first emerged earlier this week that Lamar had pulled a petition, and in its Friday update, the Tennessee state agency confirmed that Lamar had returned the necessary signatures to qualify.
While her signatures had yet to be verified for accuracy, Lamar’s presence in the race could represent a political blow to Pearson, who looked to be the only elected official with significant recognition to remain in the Democratic race after U.S. Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN-09) announced on Friday that he will retire at the end of this term.
In a post reflecting on the nearly two decades Cohen spent representing the district, Lamar said the congressman helped launch her political career.
“My very first legislative experience was interning in his Washington, D.C. and Memphis offices,” wrote Lamar on social media. “That experience helped shape my understanding of public service, constituent work, policy, and what it means to fight every day for the people you represent.”
She added, “Thank you, Congressman Cohen, for all you have done and all you continue to mean to our community. Your legacy will live on.”
Pearson had yet to issue a statement on Cohen’s retirement at press time, but the pair remain joint plaintiffs in a consolidated federal lawsuit seeking to block the new congressional map for the 2026 midterm elections.
While Pearson’s profile grew dramatically after he was expelled from the General Assembly due to his role in a pro-gun control riot in 2023, only to be returned to Nashville a short time later by the Shelby County Commission, Lamar has similarly drawn national attention due to her opposition to President Donald Trump and the Republican Party, beginning shortly after she was elected to office in 2018, when she claimed, “Tennessee is racist. Period.”
Legislation submitted by Lamar also drew attention in 2021, as it would have required the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to join the Biden administration’s dragnet of Tennesseans who attended the protests in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021.
In addition to confirming Lamar submitted signatures to qualify for the ballot, the list published by the Secretary of State on Friday appeared to reveal that former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry has decided against another run for public office. Barry previously pulled a petition to gather signatures for a campaign in Tennessee’s 6th Congressional District, but was not among the candidates who returned their paperwork before the Friday deadline.
– – –
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 “London Lamar” by London Lamar.Â
If she truly said all Tennessee are racists, then she is a true partisan hack and has no business in Congress. Likewise, if her intent it to join the likes of AOC, Omar, Talib or Watters and oppose everything of President Trump then she again, will be ineffective in DC. The district needs a nonpartisan representative, not another mouthpiece for the DNC. The next representative needs to respect the rule of the majority, Tennessee supports President Trump. As for Pearson, he is unequivocably unqualified. I suspect both Pearson and Lamar will throw back and forth the race card. Come on 9th, we deserve better.
All Tennessee is racist. That is what she said.
According to the democrats playbook, she should win because of her gender.