--- title: "Pearson vs. Taylor: 2026 Tennessee’s 9th District race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-tn-09" updated: "2026-08-13" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 Tennessee’s 9th District race: Justin Pearson (D) vs. Brent Taylor (R) Rating: Likely · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: August 13, 2026 Following mid-decade redistricting in Tennessee in May 2026, the 9th Congressional District was redrawn into a Republican-leaning district (won 60%-38% by Donald Trump in 2024), prompting 10-term Democratic incumbent Steve Cohen to retire. The race features Democratic state Representative Justin Pearson, who gained national prominence after being expelled and reinstated over capitol gun violence protests, against Republican state Senator Brent Taylor, a funeral director endorsed by Donald Trump and both U.S. Senators. The matchup hinges on stark partisan contrasts over public safety, border enforcement, energy policy, inflation, and gun reform in the newly drawn district. ## Candidates - **Justin Pearson** (Democrat) · [Campaign site](https://www.votejustinj.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Justin_Pearson_%28Tennessee%29) - **Brent Taylor** (Republican) · [Campaign site](https://brenttaylorforcongress.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Brent_Taylor_%28Tennessee%29) ## Issues ### Gun control Salience: high Pearson campaigns directly on gun safety legislation and reform, whereas Taylor opposes firearm restrictions and focuses on stiffer penalties for violent gun crimes. **Justin Pearson:** Supports stricter gun safety laws Pearson advocates for legislative measures to end the gun violence epidemic and protect public schools. His participation in state floor protests calling for gun control led to a vote by House Republicans to temporarily expel him in 2023. - Campaigns on ending the gun violence epidemic and ensuring school safety. - Led high-profile state capitol protests advocating for gun reform laws. > “Ensure safe schools and gun safety” > — Justin Pearson, via [Campaign site](https://www.votejustinj.com/) **Brent Taylor:** Supports penalizing firearm offenses Taylor focuses on law enforcement penalties for gun-related crimes rather than restricting firearm access for citizens. - Sponsored stronger criminal penalties for violent and firearm-related offenses in the state Senate. > “In the State Senate, Brent delivered real results by sponsoring tough bail reform, supporting stronger penalties for violent and firearm-related crimes, and holding soft-on-crime prosecutors accountable.” > — Brent Taylor, via [Campaign site](https://brenttaylorforcongress.com/) ### Economy and cost of living Salience: high Pearson advocates for progressive wealth redistribution and poverty eradication, while Taylor proposes federal spending cuts and deregulation to lower living costs. **Justin Pearson:** Supports economic relief for working class Pearson focuses on economic justice, campaigning to build an economy that serves working-class families rather than large corporations and wealthy individuals. He lists poverty eradication as a core priority. - Focuses on building an economy centered on working families over corporations. - Prioritizes district-wide poverty eradication initiatives. > “Build an economy for the many, not just big corporations and the billionaire few” > — Justin Pearson, via [Campaign site](https://www.votejustinj.com/) > “poverty eradication” > — Justin Pearson, via [Campaign site](https://www.votejustinj.com/) **Brent Taylor:** Supports spending cuts and deregulation Taylor aims to curb inflation by slashing federal spending and removing burdensome regulations. In the state Senate, he passed measures making large data centers pay their own electric infrastructure costs to protect local taxpayers. - Supports cutting federal spending and rolling back government regulations to fight inflation. - Forced large tech data centers to cover utility infrastructure expenses directly. > “In Washington, Brent will support President Trump’s agenda: cutting reckless federal spending, slashing burdensome regulations, and delivering real economic relief to the hardworking people of our district.” > — Brent Taylor, via [Campaign site](https://brenttaylorforcongress.com/) ### Energy and environment Salience: medium Pearson demands environmental protections against industrial pollution and toxic data centers, whereas Taylor supports expanding fossil fuel and nuclear production along with environmental deregulation. **Justin Pearson:** Supports climate and environmental justice Pearson makes environmental justice a cornerstone of his platform, aiming to safeguard local air, land, and water from industrial pollution and toxic commercial projects. - Protect natural resources from pollution and toxic data center projects. - Promote district-wide climate and environmental justice. > “Protect our land, air and water from toxic data centers” > — Justin Pearson, via [Campaign site](https://www.votejustinj.com/) > “Environmental and Climate Justice” > — Justin Pearson, via [Campaign site](https://www.votejustinj.com/) **Brent Taylor:** Supports domestic energy production expansion Taylor favors boosting domestic oil, natural gas, and nuclear power production to lower utility prices and strengthen national security. He also reformed state isolated wetlands rules to streamline regulations for landowners. - Expand domestic oil, natural gas, and nuclear power generation. - Passed state legislation reforming isolated wetlands regulations to cut bureaucratic red tape. - Requires big tech data centers to pay their full utility infrastructure costs. > “In Washington, Brent will promote American energy production to lower costs for families and businesses and improve our national security by expanding domestic oil, natural gas, and nuclear power.” > — Brent Taylor, via [Campaign site](https://brenttaylorforcongress.com/) ### Border security and immigration Salience: high Taylor strongly advocates for border wall construction, mandatory ICE detainers, and deportations, while Pearson has no documented stance on border security. **Justin Pearson:** No documented position in our sources **Brent Taylor:** Supports border wall and strict enforcement Taylor fully aligns with President Trump's border agenda, calling for finishing the border wall and deporting criminal illegal immigrants. In the Tennessee Senate, he sponsored legislation requiring local sheriffs to honor ICE detainers and penalizing human smuggling. - Support finishing the border wall, stopping fentanyl trafficking, and ending sanctuary policies. - Sponsored state legislation requiring local sheriffs to honor ICE detainers. - Back mass deportations of criminal illegal immigrants and stronger federal-state cooperation. > “If we want strong borders, and we want to end illegal immigration, and we want to support President Trump and his laying out and implementing his agenda, and we want to provide impeachment insurance for President Trump in these final two years in office, we have to win.” > — Brent Taylor, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Brent_Taylor_%28Tennessee%29) > “In the Tennessee Senate, Brent led on immigration enforcement by sponsoring the law requiring sheriffs to honor ICE detainers and cracking down on human smuggling.” > — Brent Taylor, via [Campaign site](https://brenttaylorforcongress.com/) ### Public safety and criminal justice Salience: high Taylor prioritizes longer prison sentences, bail reform, and police surge resources, whereas Pearson has no documented broad public safety platform beyond gun control. **Justin Pearson:** No documented position in our sources **Brent Taylor:** Supports tough sentencing and police backing Taylor emphasizes law-and-order policies, backing long prison sentences for violent repeat offenders and sponsoring state bail reform. He championed federal-local law enforcement partnerships like the Memphis Safe Task Force and aims to hold progressive prosecutors accountable. - Sponsored state bail reform and stronger penalties for violent and firearm-related crimes. - Partnered with federal officials to launch the Memphis Safe Task Force law enforcement surge. - Supports legislation to hold soft-on-crime progressive prosecutors accountable and increase police funding. > “Brent Taylor believes dangerous criminals belong behind bars — not back on our streets.” > — Brent Taylor, via [Campaign site](https://brenttaylorforcongress.com/) > “In the Tennessee Senate, Brent backed our police by strengthening legal protections for officers, improving line-of-duty death benefits, and fighting against woke policies that tie the hands of law enforcement.” > — Brent Taylor, via [Campaign site](https://brenttaylorforcongress.com/) ### Healthcare Salience: medium Pearson explicitly supports universal healthcare for all citizens, while Taylor has no documented healthcare position. **Justin Pearson:** Supports universal healthcare coverage Pearson advocates for healthcare reform aimed at guaranteeing comprehensive medical coverage for all citizens. - Pledges to champion healthcare for all in Congress. > “Provide healthcare for all” > — Justin Pearson, via [Campaign site](https://www.votejustinj.com/) **Brent Taylor:** No documented position in our sources ### Government spending and deficit Salience: medium Taylor pledges to eliminate wasteful programs and oppose omnibus bills, whereas Pearson has no documented stance on federal spending reductions. **Justin Pearson:** No documented position in our sources **Brent Taylor:** Supports strict fiscal cuts and omnibus opposition Taylor pledges to cut wasteful federal spending, eliminate ideological spending mandates, and oppose omnibus bills to restore fiscal responsibility. - Oppose bloated federal omnibus spending bills. - Eliminate fraud, waste, and ideological spending mandates like DEI. > “In Congress, he will cut wasteful programs, eliminate fraud and ideological spending, oppose bloated omnibus bills, and restore accountability so hardworking families in Tennessee keep more of what they earn.” > — Brent Taylor, via [Campaign site](https://brenttaylorforcongress.com/) ### Agriculture Salience: medium Taylor outlines a specific platform supporting livestock labeling standards and farmland property rights, while Pearson has no documented position on agriculture. **Justin Pearson:** No documented position in our sources **Brent Taylor:** Supports property rights and agricultural relief Taylor advocates for farmers and cattlemen by promoting voluntary farmland preservation, cutting environmental red tape, and enforcing clear labeling standards to protect real beef from lab-grown alternatives. - Reformed isolated wetlands regulations to reduce regulatory burdens on property owners. - Supports voluntary farmland preservation that protects private property rights. - Demands clear labeling to prevent lab-grown products from being marketed as real beef. > “He will support voluntary farmland preservation programs that respect landowner choice, ensure honest labeling so real Tennessee beef isn’t undercut by lab-grown products, lower production costs, and help keep family farms strong and viable for the next generation.” > — Brent Taylor, via [Campaign site](https://brenttaylorforcongress.com/) ### Democracy and campaign finance Salience: medium Pearson calls for removing big money from politics to fix democracy, while Taylor has no documented position on campaign finance reform. **Justin Pearson:** Supports getting money out of politics Pearson advocates for campaign finance reform to remove big money and special interest influence from the political system. - Campaigns on reforming democracy by removing corporate money from politics. > “Fix our democracy by getting money out of politics” > — Justin Pearson, via [Campaign site](https://www.votejustinj.com/) **Brent Taylor:** No documented position in our sources ### National defense and military Salience: low Taylor supports expanding military readiness and removing woke ideology from training, whereas Pearson has no documented national defense platform. **Justin Pearson:** No documented position in our sources **Brent Taylor:** Supports peace through strength and anti-woke military Taylor aligns with President Trump's defense stance, supporting military modernization, deterrence against foreign adversaries like China and Iran, and the elimination of progressivism in military training. - Support modernizing military forces and defense readiness. - Remove woke ideology and mandates from military training. - Deter foreign adversaries including China and Iran. > “In Washington, he will champion President Trump’s peace-through-strength agenda: rebuilding military readiness, modernizing our forces, removing woke ideology from training, strengthening our defense industrial base, and ensuring America can deter China, Iran, and other adversaries.” > — Brent Taylor, via [Campaign site](https://brenttaylorforcongress.com/) ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 31._ - [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/tn-09-house-election-winner) — TN-09 House Election Winner: Republicans 83.5%, Democrats 16.0% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXHOUSERACE-TN09-26) — TN-09 House winner?: Brent Taylor 86.0%, Justin J. Pearson 13.0% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXTNPRIMARY-09R26) — TN-09 Republican nominee?: Brent Taylor 99.0%, Jeremy Thompson 1.0%, Todd Warner 1.0% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXTNPRIMARY-09D26) — TN-09 Democratic nominee?: Justin Pearson 99.9%, DeVante Hill 1.0%, London Lamar 1.0% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-tn-09)