Tennessee GOP Unveils Map to Erase State's Only Democratic Seat

"Tennessee state Republican lawmakers proposed a new congressional map that would lessen the already small Democratic representation in the state and eliminate Black political power within the delegation sent to Washington. The move comes after the federal Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that enforcement mechanisms from lower courts for the Voting Rights Act (VRA) - including rulings requiring state map-drawers to draw Black-majority districts when relevant - were unconstitutional, a drastic decision that many legal experts contend essentially dismantled the law altogether."

"Currently, Tennessee has nine House seats. Because of the previous rulings regarding the VRA, one Black-majority seat was drawn in Memphis and its surrounding areas. That resulted in one Democratic district, with the remaining eight seats in Republican control. Although Tennessee is considered a deeply red state, the congressional delegation as it stands now is still disproportionately Republican relative to how the state votes."

"Indeed, while 34 percent of the state voted for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in 2024, only 11 percent of the congressional delegation is represented by a Democrat. Following the Supreme Court ruling, Republican Gov. Bill Lee called a special session on redistricting, and the Republican-controlled state legislature convened this week. On Wednesday, they released their proposal for a new congressional map."

"The new boundaries divide the Memphis area into three separate Republican-leaning districts, resulting in what will likely become a 9-0 Republican delegation in this fall's midterm races."

Tennessee state Republican lawmakers proposed a new congressional map that would reduce already small Democratic representation and eliminate Black political power within the state’s congressional delegation. The proposal followed a Supreme Court ruling that found enforcement mechanisms from lower courts under the Voting Rights Act unconstitutional, including requirements to draw Black-majority districts when relevant. Tennessee currently has nine House seats, with one Black-majority district in the Memphis area producing one Democratic seat and eight Republican-controlled seats. Despite the state voting Democratic at 34% for Kamala Harris in 2024, Democrats hold only 11% of the delegation. After the ruling, Republican Gov. Bill Lee called a special redistricting session, and the legislature released a plan dividing the Memphis area into three Republican-leaning districts, likely yielding a 9-0 Republican delegation.

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