Two Democrats expelled from the Tennessee Legislature last week by more than two-thirds of their GOP colleagues say they plan to return to their seats either by being reappointed by county officials or through special elections.
Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson were ousted by the Republican-controlled House for their participation in a gun-control protest on the chamber floor last month following a mass shooting at a private church school in Nashville that left three 9-year-olds and three adults dead.
County commissioners under the state’s constitution have the power to appoint interim lawmakers until a special election can be held. Both men, who appeared in a joint interview Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” are Black and have accused Republicans of expelling them over their race because they voted not to oust a third Democrat involved in the protests who is White.
It is unclear if the former lawmakers will be successful through either reappointment or special elections.
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