Rep. Steve Cohen’s unusually defensive letter to The Nation reveals how much pressure he feels from State Rep. Justin Pearson’s progressive primary challenge in Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District.

Justice Democrats’ endorsement of Memphis Rep. Justin Pearson — alongside new PAC and grassroots support from national progressive networks — highlights a broader Democratic trend in Tennessee: younger, activist candidates replacing establishment veterans like Steve Cohen as the face of the party’s future.

State Rep. Justin J. Pearson will challenge U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen in Tennessee’s heavily Democratic 9th Congressional District. Here’s what Pearson’s launch means — and how the early contours of the 2026 primary are taking shape.