Expelled Tenn. State Rep Reinstated by Council Vote

Facts

• On Monday, Justin Jones, who last week was expelled by the Republican-led Tennessee House of Representatives, was reinstated to his seat by a vote of the Metro Nashville Council.¹
• Justin Pearson, a second expelled representative, will have his reinstatement voted on by a Memphis board of commissioners on Wednesday. Both Jones and Pearson said they expect to run in special elections, which will be held in the months ahead.²
• Last Thursday, Jones and Pearson were voted out of the chamber for participating in a gun reform demonstration involving protesting in the statehouse after a deadly shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville that saw three children and three adults killed.³
• A third Democrat, Gloria Johnson, avoided expulsion when the House voted for her to remain in office last Thursday.³
• Shortly after the 36-0 vote to reinstate him, Jones was sworn in at the House.⁴

Sources: ¹Al Jazeera, ²BBC News, ³ITN, and ⁴CNN.

Narratives

• Democratic narrative, as provided by The Daily Beast. Jones and Pearson were already popular because of the policies they support, and the compassion they showed for the victims of the Nashville school shooting. By expelling them, and not considering they would easily be reinstated by their county commissions, Republicans made two of their opponents into nationwide celebrities who will now be better able to push for gun reform, racial justice, and other progressive causes.
• Republican narrative, as provided by Townhall. These Democrats violently led a rebellion against an elected body and broke several of the House’s rules. Unfortunately, Democrats continue to believe the rules don’t apply to them, especially when it comes to pushing for unconstitutional gun restrictions. They shouldn’t celebrate too hard, though. Jones — and if he’s reinstated, Pearson — still have to win reelection in order to remain in their seats.