Tennessee Court Upholds Redistricting Plan, Dismisses NAACP-Led Lawsuit
The panel said lawmakers could repeal the mid-decade redistricting ban and found most plaintiffs lacked standing, while one candidate showed campaign harm.
- On Tuesday, a three-judge panel upheld Tennessee's new congressional map, dismissing the NAACP's legal challenge with prejudice. The map splits Shelby County into three districts, dismantling Memphis's majority-Black voter district.
- Governor Bill Lee called a special legislative session beginning May 5 to redraw districts mid-decade, an unprecedented move outside the normal ten-year census cycle. Lawmakers approved the plan in a 25-5 vote targeting Tennessee's only Democratic-held seat.
- The new map fragments the Memphis-based 9th Congressional District, currently Tennessee's only Democratic-held seat. Tennessee Speaker Cameron Sexton said the map would help "ensure the state's representation in Washington reflects its conservative values" and secure a ninth Republican seat.
- NAACP General Counsel Kristen Clarke called the redistricting "a direct attack on our democracy and our Constitution to dismantle majority-Black districts." The organization launched the "Out of Bounds" campaign on May 19 urging Black families to reconsider supporting Southern universities.
- Multiple federal lawsuits remain pending despite the state court dismissal, keeping the legal fight alive in federal court. The Tennessee ruling contrasts sharply with Alabama, where judges struck down that state's redistricting as intentionally discriminating based on race.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Tennessee NAACP lawsuit dismissed by judge regarding redrawn congressional map dividing Memphis
A judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Tennessee National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) regarding a redrawn congressional map dividing the city of Memphis, court records show.
Judges dismiss Tennessee NAACP lawsuit challenging new congressional map splitting Memphis
The dismissal order was filed Tuesday. The court ruled the case could not proceed because the state is largely protected from being sued under sovereign immunity. The judges also said most of the plaintiffs failed to show a specific personal harm and therefore did not have standing to sue.
Tennessee court upholds redistricting plan, dismisses NAACP-led lawsuit
Tennessee Chancery Court Upholds New Congressional Map Ahead of Midterms
The Tennessee Chancery Court dismissed an emergency lawsuit that aimed to block the state’s new congressional maps from going into effect ahead of the 2026 midterms. A three-judge panel appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court rejected the bid on May 26, days after hearing oral arguments from lawyers representing Tennessee voters and state election officials. The 27-page order to uphold Tennessee’s new U.S. Congressional map was issued on the sa…
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