TN-09: One of the Democrats' Generational Battles: He's 76, His Opponent Is 31

[RandySF]

The phone call last October was ostensibly a courteous gesture from a onetime intern to his former boss ahead of a campaign announcement. It quickly turned sour.

You’re going to run behind me just like everyone else, Representative Steve Cohen, 76, the former boss and a veteran of 10 successful congressional runs in Memphis, told State Representative Justin J. Pearson, 31, who made the call.

Mr. Pearson ended the call with his own rebuttal: I’m going to beat you.

The two Democrats, who separately described the conversation, have not directly spoken since, and that flash of acrimony — months ahead of the August primary contest — is a sign of how personal the generational battle to remake the Democratic Party this year could become.



https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/01/us/politics/democrats-age-memphis-house-primary.html

[marble falls]

1. Ageism in either direction ain't Democratic. That said, where's the successor Steve's been bringing up behind him? ...

... I'm 75. If I were the Rep here in marble Falls, I'd be sitting out any further go around. I'd been thinking about who I'd like to see come in behind me for the last 6 or 10 years.

[hlthe2b]

2. Agree. I really like Justin Pearson, but I don't like how this is playing out.

Despite Biden's finding out soon after Trump took office that he had metastatic cancer in his bones (that still shocks the hell out of me it was not caught much sooner given his sometimes overwhelming joint pain)--despite that and his advanced age which made Kamala Harris a natural alternative--despite all that, is there ANYONE here who does not think we would be better off with him in as President and Harris continuing on as VP until Biden was unable to hold the office? Anyone?

Well, age is a number. So are years of experience. Youth and enthusiasm count too and Pearson has that in spades. But, I still don't like this.

[marble falls]

3. I so agree with you!

[sheshe2]

4. I am impressed with Justin J. Pearson.

[RandySF]

5. I'm rooting for him.

[sheshe2]

8. I read a lot about him and the Tennessee Three when all that sh*t was going down.

The Tennessee Three are Democratic state representatives Justin Jones, Justin Pearson, and Gloria Johnson, known for their activism against gun violence and their controversial expulsion from the Tennessee House of Representatives.

Why They Are Notable
The Tennessee Three gained national attention in 2023 after the tragic Covenant School shooting in Nashville. They used a bullhorn to protest against gun violence on the House floor, which led Republican lawmakers to file resolutions citing "disorderly behavior." Jones and Pearson were expelled, while Johnson narrowly avoided expulsion by one vote.


Their expulsion sparked widespread protests and criticism, with many viewing the action as racially motivated, given that the two Black lawmakers were removed while the white member retained her seat. Both Jones and Pearson were quickly reinstated to their positions through local government appointments.

Impact and Recognition
The Tennessee Three have become symbols of resistance and advocacy for gun reform, civil rights, and political activism. They have spoken at national events, including the 2024 Democratic National Convention, and continue to use their platforms to highlight issues of racial inequality, systemic injustice, and the right to protest. Their actions have drawn attention to the balance between legislative decorum and the right to free speech in representative government.

https://www.bing.com/search?q=who+are+the+Tennessee+three&FORM=QSRE14

..............................................................

Plus....he is no Platner.

Thanks. Randy.

[dickthegrouch]

6. I was always told that my first responsibility was to train my successor

Not to change their mind, but to alert them to the hidden dangers and allow the successor time to plan against those dangers.

[Ilikepurple]

7. I can't read the article, but it doesn't seem like this is fundamentally a generational battle.

I have tried to find local sources with the same take, but they are more focused on the personal history between the candidates if anything. Again, I’m sure I’m out of line by assuming, but “ostensibly a courteous gesture from a onetime intern to his former boss” tells me the writer has a take they are advocating. Although age probably is at play here, it doesn’t appear the focus of their statements about each other. This sort of drama is to be expected whenever former employee seeks to unseat their former supervisor. These primary battles don’t have to be primarily generational, but there are people young and old that think this is a winning strategy.

[Nanjeanne]

9. Justin Pearson is a very impressive young man. I hope he is very successful. He has a real future.