How Knox County and other Tennessee lawmakers voted in House expulsion debate
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Led by a Republican supermajority, the Tennessee House on Thursday expelled two Democratic lawmakers for breaking House rules and leading a gun-reform protest from the chamber's floor.
A third lawmaker, Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, narrowly survived after lawmakers failed by one vote to achieve the two-thirds majority needed to expel her from the Tennessee General Assembly.
All the House Republicans representing Knox County – Reps. Michele Carringer, Elaine Davis, Justin Lafferty, Jason Zachary, Dave Wright – voted to oust Johnson, as well as Reps. Justin Jones of Nashville and Justin Pearson of Memphis.
The decision to expel Jones and Pearson came after hours of heated debate between Republicans and Democrats — all as the eyes of the nation were on Tennessee and its politics.
Nathan Higdon of Indivisible East Tennessee, who traveled from Knoxville to join protests at the State Capitol on April 6, called the expulsion vote "a disgrace," even considering "the horrific behavior that has gone on for decades in this body. And yet they come after two young black men and a woman who are Democratic, who do not stand for their values. This is disgusting. And this is fascism."
William Mendoza, a Career Magnet Academy High School student from Knoxville who was also in Nashville to protest that day, told Knox News he was disgusted by the votes for expulsion and thinks the Statehouse needs more diversity.
"I specifically live in Gloria Johnson's district and I've worked on her campaign, and even though we won (Johnson's expulsion vote) by a small margin I had tears of joy that came down my face," Medoza added.
Expulsion vote: GOP expels Democratic Reps. Justin Jones, Justin Pearson from House over gun-control protest
Johnson survives: Rep. Gloria Johnson survives Tennessee House expulsion vote after peaceful gun control demonstration
Reappointing: Growing list of Nashville Council members vows to reappoint Justin Jones to the state House
The expulsion decisions came in three separate decisions. Here's how the 99-member House voted on each one.
Justin Jones, expelled on a 72-25 vote.
Yes votes - 72
Rep. Rebecca Alexander, R-Jonesborough
Rep. Jody Barrett, R-Dickson
Rep. Clark Boyd, R-Lebanon
Rep. Rush Bricken, R-Tullahoma
Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood
Rep. Jeff Burkhart, R-Clarksville
Rep. Ed Butler, R-Rickman
Rep. Scotty Campbell, R-Mountain City
Rep. Kip Capley, R-Summertown
Rep. Dale Carr, R-Sevierville
Rep. Michele Carringer, R-Knoxville
Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka
Rep. Mark Cochran, R-Englewood
Rep. John Crawford, R-Bristol/Kingsport
Rep. Tandy Darby, R-Greenfield
Rep. Elaine Davis, R-Knoxville
Rep. Clay Doggett, R-Pulaski
Rep. Rick Eldridge, R-Morristown
Republican Caucus Chair Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby
Rep. Andrew Farmer, R-Sevierville
Rep. Monty Fritts, R-Kingston
Rep. Ron Gant, R-Piperton
Rep. Johnny Garrett, R-Goodlettsville
Rep. John Gillespie, R-Memphis
Rep. Rusty Grills, R-Newbern
Rep. Michael Hale, R-Smithville
Rep. David Hawk, R-Greeneville
Rep. Patsy Hazlewood, R-Signal Mountain
Rep. Esther Helton-Haynes, R-East Ridge
Rep. Gary Hicks, R-Rogersville
Rep. Tim Hicks, R-Gray
Rep. John Holsclaw, R-Elizabethton
Rep. Dan Howell, R-Cleveland
Rep. Bud Hulsey, R-Kingsport
Rep. Chris Hurt, R-Halls
Rep. Curtis Johnson, R-Clarksville
Rep. Kelly Keisling, R-Byrdstown
Rep. Sabi "Doc" Kumar, R-Springfield
Rep. Justin Lafferty, R-Knoxville
House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland
Rep. Tom Leatherwood, R-Arlington
Rep. Mary Littleton, R-Dickson
Rep. Susan Lynn, R-Mt. Juliet
Rep. Pat Marsh, R-Shelbyville
Rep. Greg Martin, R-Hamilton County
Rep. Brock Martin, R-Huntingdon
Rep. Jake McCalmon, R-Franklin
Rep. Debra Moody, R-Covington
Rep. Jerome Moon, R-Maryville
Rep. Dennis Powers, R-Jacksboro
Rep. John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge
Rep. Kevin Raper, R-Cleveland
Rep. Jay Reedy, R-Erin
Rep. Bryan Richey, R-Maryville
Rep. Tim Rudd, R-Murfreesboro
Rep. Iris Rudder, R-Winchester
Rep. Lowell Russell, R-Vonore
Rep. Paul Sherrell, R-Sparta
Rep. William Slater, R-Gallatin
Rep. Mike Sparks, R-Smyrna
Rep. Robert Stevens, R-Smyrna
Rep. Bryan Terry, R-Murfreesboro
Rep. Chris Todd, R-Madison County
Rep. Ron Travis, R-Dayton
Rep. Kevin Vaughan, R-Collierville
Rep. Greg Vital, R-Harrison
Rep. Todd Warner, R-Chapel Hill
Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis
Rep. Ryan Williams, R-Cookeville
Rep. Dave Wright, R-Corryton
Rep. Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville
House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville
No votes - 25
Rep. Charlie Baum, R-Murfreesboro
Rep. Bill Beck, D-Nashville
Minority Leader Karen Camper, D-Memphis
Rep. Jesse Chism, D-Memphis
Democratic Caucus Chair John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville
Rep. Vincent Dixie, D-Nashville
Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Nashville
Rep. Ronnie Glynn, D-Clarksville
Rep. Yusuf Hakeem, D-Chattanooga
Rep. G. A. Hardaway, D-Memphis
Rep. Torrey Harris, D-Memphis
Rep. Caleb Hemmer, D-Nashville
Rep. Darren Jernigan, D-Nashville
Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville
Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville
Rep. Harold Love, Jr., D-Nashville
Rep. Sam McKenzie, D-Knoxville
Rep. Larry Miller, D-Memphis
Rep. Bo Mitchell, D-Nashville
Rep. Antonio Parkinson, D-Memphis
Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis
Rep. Jason Powell, D-Nashville
Rep. Johnny Shaw, D-Bolivar
Rep. Dwayne Thompson, D-Cordova
Rep. Joe Towns, Jr., D-Memphis
Not voting - 2
Rep. Kirk Haston, R-Lobelville
Rep. Sam Whitson, R-Franklin
Gloria Johnson, expulsion fails by one vote, 65-30 vote; 66 votes needed
Yes votes - 65
Rep. Rebecca Alexander, R-Jonesborough
Rep. Clark Boyd, R-Lebanon
Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood
Rep. Jeff Burkhart, R-Clarksville
Rep. Ed Butler, R-Rickman
Rep. Scotty Campbell, R-Mountain City
Rep. Kip Capley, R-Summertown
Rep. Dale Carr, R-Sevierville
Rep. Michele Carringer, R-Knoxville
Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka
Rep. Mark Cochran, R-Englewood
Rep. John Crawford, R-Bristol/Kingsport
Rep. Tandy Darby, R-Greenfield
Rep. Elaine Davis, R-Knoxville
Rep. Clay Doggett, R-Pulaski
Rep. Rick Eldridge, R-Morristown
Republican Caucus Chair Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby
Rep. Andrew Farmer, R-Sevierville
Rep. Monty Fritts, R-Kingston
Rep. Ron Gant, R-Piperton
Rep. Johnny Garrett, R-Goodlettsville
Rep. Rusty Grills, R-Newbern
Rep. Michael Hale, R-Smithville
Rep. David Hawk, R-Greeneville
Rep. Patsy Hazlewood, R-Signal Mountain
Rep. Esther Helton-Haynes, R-East Ridge
Rep. Gary Hicks, R-Rogersville
Rep. Tim Hicks, R-Gray
Rep. John Holsclaw, R-Elizabethton
Rep. Dan Howell, R-Cleveland
Rep. Bud Hulsey, R-Kingsport
Rep. Chris Hurt, R-Halls
Rep. Curtis Johnson, R-Clarksville
Rep. Kelly Keisling, R-Byrdstown
Rep. Sabi "Doc" Kumar, R-Springfield
Rep. Justin Lafferty, R-Knoxville
House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland
Rep. Tom Leatherwood, R-Arlington
Rep. Mary Littleton, R-Dickson
Rep. Susan Lynn, R-Mt. Juliet
Rep. Pat Marsh, R-Shelbyville
Rep. Greg Martin, R-Hamilton County
Rep. Brock Martin, R-Huntingdon
Rep. Jake McCalmon, R-Franklin
Rep. Debra Moody, R-Covington
Rep. Jerome Moon, R-Maryville
Rep. Dennis Powers, R-Jacksboro
Rep. John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge
Rep. Kevin Raper, R-Cleveland
Rep. Jay Reedy, R-Erin
Rep. Tim Rudd, R-Murfreesboro
Rep. Iris Rudder, R-Winchester
Rep. Paul Sherrell, R-Sparta
Rep. William Slater, R-Gallatin
Rep. Robert Stevens, R-Smyrna
Rep. Chris Todd, R-Madison County
Rep. Ron Travis, R-Dayton
Rep. Kevin Vaughan, R-Collierville
Rep. Greg Vital, R-Harrison
Rep. Todd Warner, R-Chapel Hill
Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis
Rep. Ryan Williams, R-Cookeville
Rep. Dave Wright, R-Corryton
Rep. Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville
House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville
No votes - 30
Rep. Jody Barrett, R-Dickson
Rep. Charlie Baum, R-Murfreesboro
Rep. Rush Bricken, R-Tullahoma
Rep. Bill Beck, D-Nashville
Minority Leader Karen Camper, D-Memphis
Rep. Jesse Chism, D-Memphis
Democratic Caucus Chair John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville
Rep. Vincent Dixie, D-Nashville
Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Nashville
Rep. Ronnie Glynn, D-Clarksville
Rep. Yusuf Hakeem, D-Chattanooga
Rep. G. A. Hardaway, D-Memphis
Rep. Torrey Harris, D-Memphis
Rep. Caleb Hemmer, D-Nashville
Rep. Darren Jernigan, D-Nashville
Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville
Rep. Harold Love, Jr., D-Nashville
Rep. Sam McKenzie, D-Knoxville
Rep. Larry Miller, D-Memphis
Rep. Bo Mitchell, D-Nashville
Rep. Antonio Parkinson, D-Memphis
Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis
Rep. Jason Powell, D-Nashville
Rep. Bryan Richey, R-Maryville
Rep. Lowell Russell, R-Vonore
Rep. Johnny Shaw, D-Bolivar
Rep. Mike Sparks, R-Smyrna
Rep. Dwayne Thompson, D-Cordova
Rep. Joe Towns, Jr., D-Memphis
Rep. Sam Whitson, R-Franklin
Not voting - 3
Rep. John Gillespie, R-Memphis
Rep. Kirk Haston, R-Lobelville
Rep. Bryan Terry, R-Murfreesboro
Justin Pearson, expelled on 69-26 vote
Yes votes - 69
Rep. Rebecca Alexander, R-Jonesborough
Rep. Jody Barrett, R-Dickson
Rep. Clark Boyd, R-Lebanon
Rep. Rush Bricken, R-Tullahoma
Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood
Rep. Jeff Burkhart, R-Clarksville
Rep. Ed Butler, R-Rickman
Rep. Scotty Campbell, R-Mountain City
Rep. Kip Capley, R-Summertown
Rep. Dale Carr, R-Sevierville
Rep. Michele Carringer, R-Knoxville
Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka
Rep. Mark Cochran, R-Englewood
Rep. John Crawford, R-Bristol/Kingsport
Rep. Tandy Darby, R-Greenfield
Rep. Elaine Davis, R-Knoxville
Rep. Clay Doggett, R-Pulaski
Rep. Rick Eldridge, R-Morristown
Republican Caucus Chair Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby
Rep. Andrew Farmer, R-Sevierville
Rep. Monty Fritts, R-Kingston
Rep. Ron Gant, R-Piperton
Rep. Johnny Garrett, R-Goodlettsville
Rep. Rusty Grills, R-Newbern
Rep. Michael Hale, R-Smithville
Rep. David Hawk, R-Greeneville
Rep. Patsy Hazlewood, R-Signal Mountain
Rep. Esther Helton-Haynes, R-East Ridge
Rep. Gary Hicks, R-Rogersville
Rep. Tim Hicks, R-Gray
Rep. John Holsclaw, R-Elizabethton
Rep. Dan Howell, R-Cleveland
Rep. Bud Hulsey, R-Kingsport
Rep. Chris Hurt, R-Halls
Rep. Curtis Johnson, R-Clarksville
Rep. Kelly Keisling, R-Byrdstown
Rep. Sabi "Doc" Kumar, R-Springfield
Rep. Justin Lafferty, R-Knoxville
House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland
Rep. Tom Leatherwood, R-Arlington
Rep. Mary Littleon, R-Dickson
Rep. Susan Lynn, R-Mt. Juliet
Rep. Pat Marsh, R-Shelbyville
Rep. Greg Martin, R-Hamilton County
Rep. Brock Martin, R-Huntingdon
Rep. Jake McCalmon, R-Franklin
Rep. Debra Moody, R-Covington
Rep. Jerome Moon, R-Maryville
Rep. Dennis Powers, R-Jacksboro
Rep. John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge
Rep. Kevin Raper, R-Cleveland
Rep. Jay Reedy, R-Erin
Rep. Tim Rudd, R-Murfreesboro
Rep. Iris Rudder, R-Winchester
Rep. Lowell Russell, R-Vonore
Rep. Paul Sherrell, R-Sparta
Rep. William Slater, R-Gallatin
Rep. Mike Sparks, R-Smyrna
Rep. Robert Stevens, R-Smyrna
Rep. Chris Todd, R-Madison County
Rep. Ron Travis, R-Dayton
Rep. Kevin Vaughan, R-Collierville
Rep. Greg Vital, R-Harrison
Rep. Todd Warner, R-Chapel Hill
Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis
Rep. Ryan Williams, R-Cookeville
Rep. Dave Wright, R-Corryton
Rep. Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville
House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville
No votes - 26
Rep. Charlie Baum, R-Murfreesboro
Rep. Bill Beck, D-Nashville
Minority Leader Karen Camper, D-Memphis
Rep. Jesse Chism, D-Memphis
Democratic Caucus Chair John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville
Rep. Vincent Dixie, D-Nashville
Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Nashville
Rep. John Gillespie, R-Memphis
Rep. Ronnie Glynn, D-Clarksville
Rep. Yusuf Hakeem, D-Chattanooga
Rep. G. A. Hardaway, D-Memphis
Rep. Torrey Harris, D-Memphis
Rep. Caleb Hemmer, D-Nashville
Rep. Darren Jernigan, D-Nashville
Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville
Rep. Harold Love, Jr., D-Nashville
Rep. Sam McKenzie, D-Knoxville
Rep. Larry Miller, D-Memphis
Rep. Bo Mitchell, D-Nashville
Rep. Antonio Parkinson, D-Memphis
Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis
Rep. Jason Powell, D-Nashville
Rep. Bryan Richey, R-Maryville
Rep. Johnny Shaw, D-Bolivar
Rep. Dwayne Thompson, D-Cordova
Rep. Joe Towns, Jr., D-Memphis
Not voting - 3
Rep. Kirk Haston, R-Lobelville
Rep. Bryan Terry, R-Murfreesboro
Rep. Sam Whitson, R-Franklin
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee three: How lawmakers voted in House expulsion debate
