Tennessee Democrat lawmakers expelled over House floor gun protest reclaim seats in special election

Tennessee state Reps. Justin Pearson and Justin Jones on Thursday reclaimed their seats in the legislature after being expelled for being involved in a gun control protest on the House floor. 

Both lawmakers were reinstated after a special election that each won.

Jones beat his Republican opponent, Laura Nelson, and Pearson defeated his independent rival, Jeff Johnston.

“I think if we keep running this race, there will be victory after victory after victory,” Pearson said to supporters after his victory, according to the Associated Press.

Earlier this year, Reps. Jones, Pearson and Gloria Johnson came to the podium on the House floor between bills without being recognized to speak, a violation of chamber rules, and led protesters in the gallery in chants calling for gun control until they obliged fellow members' request to stop.

This came just after the Nashville-area Covenant School in which three children and three adult staff members were killed.

The Tennessee legislature voted to expel Jones and Pearson and Johnson avoided being expelled by a single vote.

The three lawmakers became known as "The Tennessee Three" for their actions.