Republicans unveil proposed congressional map that carves up Tennessee's lone Democratic district
Republicans say the plan removes racial data from mapmaking and could reduce legal challenges as committees prepare to vote this week.
- On Wednesday, May 6, 2026, Tennessee Republicans officially released a proposed congressional map designed to eliminate the state’s final Democratic stronghold by carving up the majority-Black city of Memphis.
- The new map would dismantle the 9th Congressional District, currently represented by Rep. Steve Cohen , and divide Shelby County among three Republican-leaning districts. If passed, the map would likely result in a 9-0 Republican sweep of Tennessee’s U.S. House seats.
- Governor Bill Lee called a special legislative session specifically for this redistricting effort, following a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that weakened portions of the Voting Rights Act. State House Speaker Cameron Sexton argued the move is legal under the Court's guidance that states can redistrict based on "partisan politics."
- The push follows direct public pressure from President Trump, who last week urged Tennessee leaders to ensure the state becomes "fully Republican" in the upcoming November midterms to help cement the GOP’s narrow House majority.
- Civil rights advocates and Democratic lawmakers have condemned the proposal as a "return to Jim Crow." Martin Luther King III sent a letter to state leaders expressing "grave concern," noting that the plan dismantles the only district providing a fair voice for Black voters in the city where his father was assassinated.
21 Articles
21 Articles
'This should offend you': Red state alarms with 'insane' gerrymander reveal
The proposed map for a redistricted red state ahead of the midterms has voters and lawmakers sounding the alarm. "This is insane," wrote Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN), reacting to the proposed map for Tennessee redistricting on X. "It's a blatant, corrupt power grab that would destroy the Black community'...
Tennessee Reveals New Map Eliminating Majority-Black District
Source: Brett Carlsen / Getty The GOP has wasted no time in capitalizing on the Supreme Court’s ruling to gut the Voting Rights Act to disenfranchise Black voters. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee called a special session on Tuesday to focus on redistricting, and on Wednesday, the state legislature revealed a map that eliminates the state’s only majority-Black district. According to the New York Times, the new map will likely give Republicans the opportu…
Tennessee Republicans plan three-way split of Shelby County districts
New maps drawn up by Tennessee Republicans, with input from the Trump administration, will cut Memphis into three districts instead of one. (Map from Tennessee Senate Republican Caucus)A Tennessee congressional map redrawn by Republicans with direction from the White House cuts Shelby County into three districts designed to give the GOP complete control over the state and consolidate power in Williamson County. Notably, Memphis would be drawn in…
Republicans unveil proposed congressional map that carves up Tennessee's lone Democratic district
Republican legislative leaders in Tennessee on Wednesday released a congressional map proposal they are hoping to put in place before the midterm elections that would eliminate the state's only Democratic-controlled district
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