London Lamar

Tennessee’s state primary features a gubernatorial race with U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn and Rep. John Rose, a new congressional map reshaping Memphis districts, and competitive races for U.S. House and Senate seats. Memphis voters will select House nominees under a Republican-drawn map, and candidates in the new 9th District include state Rep. Justin Pearson and Sen. Brent Taylor.

Democrats in Tennessee are working to retain a single seat amid newly drawn House maps. Representative Steve Cohen and state senators Raumesh Akbari and London Lamar are discussing the updated district boundaries.

Tennessee's newly redrawn 9th Congressional District, shaped by Republican-led redistricting, has triggered competitive primaries. Republican candidates include Trump-endorsed Brent Taylor and others like Todd Warner and Charlotte Bergmann, while Democrats face Justin Pearson and London Lamar. The district, now spanning rural and suburban areas, is seen as a potential Republican stronghold.

Tennessee congressional and gubernatorial candidates are receiving high-profile endorsements as the Aug. 6 primary nears. U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles relies on support from President Donald Trump and other figures, while former Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher gains backing from former governors and a PAC planning heavy ad spending. Candidates like Justin Pearson and Chaz Molder also secure union and political endorsements.

A federal court denied a preliminary injunction to block Tennessee’s new congressional map, which splits majority-Black Memphis into three districts, ruling the plaintiffs failed to show racial discrimination was a substantial factor. The ACLU lawsuit alleges the map dilutes Black voters' influence, while lawmakers claim it reflects political strategy.

The family of Tyrin Johnson, a 20-year-old man shot and killed by the Tennessee National Guard in Memphis, is demanding the release of video footage to verify law enforcement's account of the incident. Memphis police stated the National Guard members, part of a crime-fighting patrol, shot Tyrin after he allegedly turned toward them with a gun while fleeing. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is reviewing the case, and local Democrats and advocacy groups are calling for transparency and an end to the federal task force's presence.

The family of Tyrin Johnson, a man shot and killed by the Tennessee National Guard in Memphis, is demanding the release of video footage to verify police claims that he was armed. Memphis police stated the National Guard members were responding to gunfire, while the family disputes the narrative. Tennessee Senate Democrats and local officials are calling for a transparent investigation and immediate release of evidence.

The grandfather of Tyrin Johnson, a man shot and killed by the Tennessee National Guard in Memphis, is demanding the release of video footage to verify the police account that his grandson turned toward guard members with a gun. Memphis police stated the National Guard was responding to gunfire reports, while the family disputes the narrative, asserting deadly force was unnecessary. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is reviewing the case, and local Democrats have called for transparency and the release of any available video.

The family of Tyrin Johnson, a man shot and killed by the Tennessee National Guard in Memphis, demands the release of video footage to challenge the police account of the incident. Memphis police claim the National Guard members, part of a federal crime-fighting initiative, fired after Johnson allegedly turned toward them with a gun. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is reviewing the case, and local Democrats are calling for transparency in the investigation.

Tennessee lawmakers passed a new congressional map that may flip the state's final Democratic seat, targeting the 9th Congressional District and potentially erasing Black voter representation in Memphis. The move has been met with protests and criticism from Democrats. Legal challenges are expected under federal voting rights laws.

Tennessee lawmakers passed a new congressional map that could flip the state's final Democratic seat, targeting the 9th Congressional District and potentially erasing Black voter representation in Memphis. The move has sparked protests and criticism from Democrats, who argue it's a direct assault on minority representation. The map is expected to be signed into law by Governor Bill Lee.