Tennessee council to vote on return of second Democrat to legislature

Vote on nominating Justin Pearson as interim state representative follows Justin Jones’s return to his seat on Monday

A second Black Tennessee lawmaker expelled from the state house last week by Republicans could be restored to his seat as early as Wednesday afternoon as the backlash to their removal continues.

The Shelby county commission will vote on nominating Justin Pearson, 29, as interim state representative to fill the vacancy created when he and fellow Democrat Justin Jones were ousted for taking part in a gun reform protest in the chamber following the murders of six people last month at a Nashville school.