NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — One of the two Black Democrats who were thrown out of the Tennessee House last week appeared likely to get his seat back Monday, just days after the GOP exacted retribution against the lawmakers who protested for more gun control.
Democratic Tennessee state Reps. Justin Jones (Nashville) and Rep. Justin Pearson (Memphis) have both said they will run in special elections for their seats, but could be back in the statehouse even sooner if their respective city council appoint them on an interim basis.
Both Reps. Justin Jones of Nashville and Justin Pearson of Memphis are poised to be reinstated by their local county commissions, which are in charge of addressing legislative vacancies following an expulsion. The Nashville Metropolitan Council will vote on Monday about Jones’s seat and the Shelby County Commission will vote on Wednesday about Pearson’s.
Nashville’s metro council has called the meeting to address the vacancy left by the expulsion on Thursday of former Rep. Justin Jones. Many councilmembers have publicly commented that they want to send Jones back to the statehouse. The vote will happen as state lawmakers hold their first floor sessions since last week’s expulsion votes.
Asked on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday whether he plans to accept a potential reappointment and run in a special election to get back to the state House, Jones said “yes and yes.”
source MIIN