Justin Pearson leads the TN-09 Democratic primary market because longtime Representative Steve Cohen withdrew in mid-May after Tennessee lawmakers redrew the district boundaries, splitting Memphis and shifting the seat toward more Republican-leaning areas. Pearson, a state representative who gained visibility through his 2023 legislative protest on gun control, has consolidated support among Democratic primary voters through fundraising and endorsements in the weeks since the open seat emerged. DeVante Hill, a community activist, and other entrants trail with narrower bases. The August 6 primary will resolve the nomination ahead of the November general election in the altered district.