Tennessee GOP Approves New Congressional Map Splitting Majority-Black District

Tennessee’s Republican-controlled legislature approved a new congressional map on Thursday that dissolves the state’s lone majority-Black district, a move expected to favor Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections. The redrawn map splits Memphis, a majority-Black city, and Shelby County into three districts, fracturing the Democratic stronghold currently represented by Rep. Steve Cohen, a Democrat who has announced plans to sue over the changes.

The new boundaries also further divide the Nashville metropolitan area into five districts, extending some lines hundreds of miles across Tennessee’s distinct geographic regions and media markets. This redistricting effort follows a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last week that narrowed protections under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which previously limited racial considerations in drawing congressional districts.

Governor Bill Lee, a Republican, called a special legislative session to redraw the map ahead of the state’s August 6 primaries. The Tennessee House passed the measure amid protests and a walkout by Democratic lawmakers. Protesters filled the State Capitol, chanting and yelling, with some accusing the session of being a “white-power rally and a white-power grab,” according to Democratic state Rep. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville.

Republican state Sen. John Stevens, who sponsored the bill, defended the map by stating, “Tennessee is a conservative state. Its congressional delegation should reflect that.” He added that the maps were drawn using census data to maximize partisan advantage, though Democrats questioned the use of census data for partisan purposes since it does not include political affiliation.

Democratic state Sen. Raumesh Akbari of Memphis criticized the map on the Senate floor, urging colleagues to reject it and highlighting the impact on Black voters in Memphis. “When you had an opportunity to do right, did you beat people back on Edmund Pettus Bridge?” she asked, referencing historic civil rights struggles. The Senate passed the map amid continued protests, with some senators expressing dissent by turning their backs or displaying signs reading “No Jim Crow 2.0” and “Stop the TN Steal.”

The new map is expected to be signed into law by Governor Lee, positioning Republicans to potentially gain a congressional seat and secure full control of Tennessee’s delegation. Tennessee is the ninth state to approve new congressional maps ahead of the midterms, part of a broader wave of mid-decade redistricting efforts by Republican-led states following encouragement from former President Donald Trump to redraw districts to bolster the party’s narrow House majority.

The Supreme Court’s recent ruling has intensified these efforts by effectively eliminating certain racial gerrymandering protections, prompting other states like Louisiana, Alabama, and South Carolina to consider similar redistricting moves. These states collectively have five majority-minority districts represented by Democrats. Some states that have missed filing deadlines for the 2024 cycle are already looking toward the 2028 elections for potential map changes.