Remember That Radical TN Dem With the Weird Preacher Act? Yeah, He Might Be Headed to Congress

AP Photo/George Walker IV

This is turning out to be quite the year for the Democrat Party to trot out their oddest oddballs and run them for office. Michigan might have the highest concentration of freaky Dem candidates in 2026, but the seemingly sane state of Tennessee is in the running for that honor, too, because of one man: Justin Pearson.

Advertisement

On his best day, this guy exudes the weirdo aura of ten standard Democrats. On his worst day, he dances like an epileptic James Brown and talks like a revivalist preacher, usually on the floor of the Tennessee legislature. It's performative politics at its worst.

He first made headlines back in 2023 when he was expelled from the Tennessee legislature after holding an anti-gun rally on the floor of the statehouse. A transgender loon had just shot up Nashville's Covenant School, killing several students and staff. Not one to want to console the families or talk about the need for mental health services, Pearson instead went straight for the gun grab. (He was eventually reinstated to his position.)

With Justin Pearson, you have to see him in action to believe him.

His transformation from straight-laced college boy to fire-and-brimstone political preacher has even Jasmine Crockett blushing with embarrassment.

He's a bully.

Advertisement

He's a radical oddball.

He loves to act the fool.

Fast forward to this year, and Pearson once again became what we used to call "Twitter famous" thanks to his foolish behavior after the Tennessee state legislature voted to approve a new congressional map that carved Memphis into three districts. This followed the Supreme Court ruling in Louisiana v. Callais that barred congressional districts from being drawn based on race.

Advertisement

As you can see, Justin Pearson is a theater kid extraordinaire who's chosen politics as his stage. When someone like Jasmine Crockett starts going off the rails with their phoniness, Pearson says, "Hold my triple soy latte."

And, on Thursday evening, Pearson won the Democrat primary for Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District, bringing him one step closer to taking his megaphone act to Capitol Hill. 

Just what Congress needs, another Democrat who'd rather throw performative temper tantrums than engage in honest debate.

Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.

Help RedState continue to report on the Democrats’ radicalism and inform voters as our nation faces a crossroads. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.

Recommended

Join the conversation as a VIP Member

Trending on RedState Videos