AP Calls Taylor Winner Over Pearson in Tennessee’s 9th
AP on Thursday called Republican Sen. Brent Taylor the winner over Democrat Justin Pearson in Tennessee's redrawn 9th District, FOX17 reported.
Tennessee’s redrawn 9th Congressional District flipped to Republicans after the Associated Press on Thursday afternoon projected state Sen. Brent Taylor the winner over Democrat Justin J. Pearson, FOX17 reported. The call came at 1:40 p.m. Central time, according to FOX17.
NBC News results showed Taylor with 49.6% to Pearson’s 48.5%, with independent Dennis Clark at 1.1%, on 225,614 votes and about 99% of the expected vote counted. Unofficial county returns compiled by the Tennessee Secretary of State and cited by Memphis Report put Taylor at 111,968 votes and Pearson at 109,429, a margin of about 2,540 votes; independents Michelle Davis Head and Clark received 1,804 and 2,413 votes.
How the map changed the seat
Memphis Democrats had held the 9th for decades until Republican lawmakers redrew it in a May special session after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais, splitting Memphis among three congressional districts, Memphis Report said. FOX17 listed parts of 15 counties in the new district: Bedford, Fayette, Giles, Hardeman, Hardin, Lawrence, Lincoln, Marshall, Maury, McNairy, Moore, Rutherford, Shelby, Wayne and Williamson. Taylor, a Tennessee state senator, carried rural West and Middle Tennessee counties while Pearson took about 85% in the district’s Shelby County portion, Memphis Report reported, citing Associated Press results data via the Tennessee Lookout.
Developing: NBC News still showed about 2,300 expected votes outstanding after the Associated Press call; results remain unofficial until state certification.
Pearson accepts the result
Pearson, a state representative who will keep Tennessee House District 86, said Wednesday he accepted the congressional result but “will not concede to rigged maps,” according to a statement published by Memphis Report. Taylor claimed victory just after 11 p.m. on election night; Pearson told supporters Tuesday he would wait until all ballots were counted, Memphis Report said. Taylor is scheduled to be sworn in on Jan. 3, 2027; see also Kennedy’s hold in Utah’s 4th.
Sources: FOX17, NBC News, Memphis Report, Associated Press
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