Federal judge sides with state in crucial early ruling over Tennesee's new U.S. House map

"The plaintiffs asked Campbell for a temporary restraining order that would block state and local election officials from implementing the new map. Campbell, who was appointed to the bench by President Trump, said no. The bottom line: Since the qualifying deadline for candidates is tomorrow, the courts may determine the election is too far along to stop the map from taking effect for this year."

"Tennessee Republicans drew new district boundaries during a special session last week in hopes of giving the GOP control of all nine of the state's House seats. The lawsuit claimed the new map creates election chaos since it was implemented after the qualifying deadline. Several Democratic candidates were drawn out of the districts in which they planned to run."

"State Rep. Justin Pearson and Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder, along with Tennessee voters, sued to stop the new map from taking effect. U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen was also named among the plaintiffs seeking to prevent state and local election officials from using the new district boundaries."

"A separate federal lawsuit and a legal challenge in Davidson County Chancery Court also seek to stop the new map from taking effect."

Democratic candidates and Tennessee voters sued to stop a newly drawn Tennessee House district map from taking effect. Tennessee Republicans created the new boundaries during a special session to try to secure GOP control of all nine House seats. The lawsuit alleges the map will cause election chaos because it was implemented after the candidate qualifying deadline. Several Democratic candidates claim they were drawn out of the districts where they intended to run. Plaintiffs requested a temporary restraining order to prevent state and local election officials from implementing the map. The judge denied the request, and the qualifying deadline is tomorrow, which may lead courts to conclude the election is too far along to halt the map for this year. Separate federal and Davidson County Chancery Court challenges also aim to stop the map’s effect.

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