Tennessee state Rep. Justin J. Pearson successfully defended the District 86 seat against Independent challenger Jeff Johnston Tuesday night .
With early voting numbers and 11 of 19 precincts reporting, Pearson had secured about 77% of the vote.
Pearson was first elected to the District 86 seat in a special election almost two years ago after the longtime incumbent of that seat, Barbara Cooper , died. He was expelled by House Republicans soon after winning the seat for protesting gun violence on the House floor.
He was quickly reappointed to the seat by the Shelby County Commission and then was reelected to the seat in another special election.
Pearson first rose to political prominence during a fight against the attempted construction of a crude oil pipeline. The fight eventually resulted in the creation of the nonprofit Memphis Community Against the Pipeline, which has since been renamed Memphis Community Against Pollution.
His removal from office, alongside fellow Democratic Rep. Justin Jones, served to bolster his political star-power and put Pearson on the national stage.