We have a Thursday election here in the middle of June, as voters in two Tennessee districts head to the polls to choose their party’s nominee for special elections caused by a pair of expulsions from the statehouse. Democratic Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson were expelled from the Tennessee House of Representatives after participating in a protest advocating for gun control following a deadly shooting at a Nashville area school. Their Republican colleagues claimed that they had broken House rules with their actions during the protest, and passed a resolution to expel them from the chamber. Jones and Pearson were later reinstated in unanimous votes by local councils and commissions. Tennesse law, however, says that special elections must be held in the case of expulsion from the General Assembly. In the 52nd State House District, which lies in Nashville, both the Democratic and Republican primaries are uncontested. In the 86th State House District, which lies in Memphis, incumbent Rep. Justin Pearson is facing a primary challenge from David Page, an educator who ran unsuccessfully for the Shelby County Board of Education in 2022. No Republican candidates filed to run in the 86th District. This is the second time this year voters in the 86th District have had to choose their representative. Justin Pearson originally was elected to office in a special election earlier this year following the passing of the district’s longtime representative, Barbara Cooper. The winners of today’s contests will meet in a special general election on August 3. Polls close at 7 p.m. CDT. We will have the election results below once they do.