NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Democratic Reps. Justin Pearson and Justin Jones, who were expelled from the Tennessee legislature after they interrupted the body’s proceedings while calling for stricter gun control, won back their legislative seats in special elections on Thursday.
Pearson and Jones were both expelled from their seats after they were involved in the gun control protest on the Tennessee House floor, according to The Associated Press. Both were eventually reinstated by local officials, but on an interim basis.
Now that they won Thursday’s elections, both have fully reclaimed their positions.
Jones was up against Republican candidate Laura Nelson and Pearson was up against independent candidate Jeff Johnston, the AP reported.
Jones and Pearson joined Democrat Rep. Gloria Johnson in a gun control protest on the House floor that took place days after the deadly shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, according to NBC News.
Thousands of protestors went to the state capitol building to demand some sort of firearm restriction and Jones, Johnson, and Pearson joined them, the AP reported.
The three then interrupted activities on the House floor and Republican lawmakers said they believed that the trio’s actions violated the rules of the House and voted to expel them. According to the AP, this has only happened a few times since the Civil War.
Johnson avoided getting expelled, but Pearson and Jones both were ousted. Their expulsions drew national attention.
