The Tennessee General Assembly approved a new congressional map on Thursday that divides the state’s only majority-Black district, a move that follows a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling weakening protections against racial gerrymandering under the Voting Rights Act. The Republican-led legislature also passed a measure to overturn the state’s ban on mid-decade redistricting, clearing the way for the map to take effect before the November election.
The map targets Shelby County, which includes Memphis and is home to a majority-Black population. Under the new plan, the county would be split into three different congressional districts, according to multiple news reports. This restructuring would dismantle the state’s 9th Congressional District, currently the sole district represented by a Democrat in the U.S. House. As a result, Tennessee’s nine congressional seats would likely all be held by Republicans after the election, giving the GOP a clean sweep of the state’s delegation.
The legislative action came days after the Supreme Court issued a decision that critics say weakens the ability to challenge racial gerrymandering under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The ruling has drawn attention from civil rights groups and Democratic lawmakers, who argue that the Tennessee map is a direct consequence of the court’s shift. They contend that splitting the majority-Black district dilutes the voting power of African Americans in the Memphis area.
Republican leaders in the legislature moved swiftly to pass the map, overturning a previous prohibition on redrawing districts outside the traditional post-census cycle. The measure to allow mid-decade redistricting was approved earlier Thursday, enabling the immediate consideration of the new congressional boundaries. The party’s legislative majority advanced the map, while opponents characterized it as a partisan maneuver to eliminate the last Democratic seat.
The map has been passed by the legislature and is set to take effect for the November election, pending any legal challenges. Voting rights advocates and Democratic organizations may argue that the map violates remaining provisions of the Voting Rights Act or the U.S. Constitution. The outcome could affect the balance of power in the U.S. House, as Tennessee’s delegation would shift from an 8-1 Republican majority to a potential 9-0 split.
The Washington Times reported that the map will likely eliminate the state’s sole Democrat in the House. NPR noted that the cracking of Shelby County is designed to remove the Democratic-held seat. Politico highlighted that the proposal gives Republicans a clean sweep of all nine districts. The Guardian linked the move to the Supreme Court’s recent ruling, while NBC News and CBS News detailed the legislative steps taken to overturn the mid-decade redistricting ban.
The swift passage of the map underscores the ongoing national debate over redistricting, racial representation, and the impact of recent judicial decisions on voting rights. As Tennessee becomes the latest state to enact a congressional map with significant partisan and racial implications, attention turns to the courts to determine whether the new boundaries will stand.
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