Progressive Firebrand Takes on 76-Year-Old Democrat in Memphis Showdown

Paul Riverbank, 10/9/2025In a compelling generational showdown, 30-year-old progressive Justin Pearson challenges veteran Rep. Steve Cohen for Tennessee's 9th Congressional District. This race epitomizes the Democratic Party's internal dynamics, pitting established leadership against emerging progressive voices, with implications extending far beyond Memphis's borders.

I've covered plenty of primary challenges in my years as a political commentator, but this one feels different. The generational contrast couldn't be starker – Pearson, barely into his thirties, taking on the 76-year-old Cohen, who's held the seat since I was still covering city council meetings back in 2007.

What makes this race particularly fascinating isn't just the age gap. Pearson burst onto the national stage last spring when Tennessee Republicans expelled him from the state legislature (a move that spectacularly backfired when his constituents promptly sent him right back). Now he's positioning himself as the voice of change in a district crying out for economic revival.

"We can't afford more of the same," Pearson declared at his campaign launch. The numbers he cites are sobering – median income trailing national averages by a third, and a child poverty rate hovering around 37%. His dig at Cohen's D.C. condo landed with particular force: "I don't have a mansion in Memphis – I understand the struggle."

The progressive machinery is already humming. Justice Democrats, the group that helped Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez shock the political world in 2018, jumped in early. More surprisingly, David Hogg's Leaders We Deserve organization pledged a cool million to back Pearson's primary bid. Having covered campaign finance for years, I can tell you – that's serious money for a primary challenge.

Cohen, for his part, seems to be taking it all in stride. "I always get primaried," he told reporters with the weary confidence of a veteran incumbent. He's not wrong – he's swatted away primary challengers before. But something feels different this time.

The district's demographics add another layer of intrigue. Cohen, who is white, has represented this majority-Black district for nearly two decades. He's maintained strong support through consistent constituent service and reliable progressive votes. But Pearson's campaign isn't really about ideology – it's about representation, generational change, and a different kind of political energy.

Looking at Pearson's platform, you see echoes of the progressive playbook – Medicare for All, higher taxes on billionaires, skepticism toward corporate automation. But he's wrapped these familiar positions in deeply personal packaging, drawing from his experience fighting the Byhalia Connection pipeline and his headline-grabbing gun control advocacy.

Having watched Democratic politics evolve over three decades, I'm struck by how this race encapsulates broader tensions within the party. It's not just Memphis wrestling with questions of generational change – similar dynamics are playing out in Democratic primaries across the country.

The 9th District isn't going red anytime soon – Harris carried it with 70% in 2024. But this primary could tell us something important about where Democratic voters' heads are at. Are they ready to embrace a new generation of leadership, or will they stick with the familiar faces who've been fighting their battles for decades? Memphis voters might just give us our first real clue.

Memphis politics just got a whole lot more interesting. The Democratic establishment found itself facing an unexpected challenge last week when Justin Pearson, the fiery 30-year-old state representative who made headlines during last year's gun control protests, announced his bid to unseat Steve Cohen in Tennessee's 9th Congressional District.I've covered plenty of primary challenges in my years as a political commentator, but this one feels different. The generational contrast couldn't be starker – Pearson, barely into his thirties, taking on the 76-year-old Cohen, who's held the seat since I was still covering city council meetings back in 2007.What makes this race particularly fascinating isn't just the age gap. Pearson burst onto the national stage last spring when Tennessee Republicans expelled him from the state legislature (a move that spectacularly backfired when his constituents promptly sent him right back). Now he's positioning himself as the voice of change in a district crying out for economic revival."We can't afford more of the same," Pearson declared at his campaign launch. The numbers he cites are sobering – median income trailing national averages by a third, and a child poverty rate hovering around 37%. His dig at Cohen's D.C. condo landed with particular force: "I don't have a mansion in Memphis – I understand the struggle."The progressive machinery is already humming. Justice Democrats, the group that helped Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez shock the political world in 2018, jumped in early. More surprisingly, David Hogg's Leaders We Deserve organization pledged a cool million to back Pearson's primary bid. Having covered campaign finance for years, I can tell you – that's serious money for a primary challenge.Cohen, for his part, seems to be taking it all in stride. "I always get primaried," he told reporters with the weary confidence of a veteran incumbent. He's not wrong – he's swatted away primary challengers before. But something feels different this time.The district's demographics add another layer of intrigue. Cohen, who is white, has represented this majority-Black district for nearly two decades. He's maintained strong support through consistent constituent service and reliable progressive votes. But Pearson's campaign isn't really about ideology – it's about representation, generational change, and a different kind of political energy.Looking at Pearson's platform, you see echoes of the progressive playbook – Medicare for All, higher taxes on billionaires, skepticism toward corporate automation. But he's wrapped these familiar positions in deeply personal packaging, drawing from his experience fighting the Byhalia Connection pipeline and his headline-grabbing gun control advocacy.Having watched Democratic politics evolve over three decades, I'm struck by how this race encapsulates broader tensions within the party. It's not just Memphis wrestling with questions of generational change – similar dynamics are playing out in Democratic primaries across the country.The 9th District isn't going red anytime soon – Harris carried it with 70% in 2024. But this primary could tell us something important about where Democratic voters' heads are at. Are they ready to embrace a new generation of leadership, or will they stick with the familiar faces who've been fighting their battles for decades? Memphis voters might just give us our first real clue.