Tennessee Republicans Redraw Maps to Eliminate Majority-Black Democratic District

Tennessee Republicans redraw maps to erase last Democratic, Black-majority district

On Thursday, May 7, 2026, Tennessee’s Republican-dominated legislature approved new congressional redistricting maps that dismantle the state’s only Democratic-held, majority-Black district, a move critics say dilutes the voting power of Black residents and strengthens Republican control ahead of the November midterm elections. The change comes just days after the U.S. Supreme Court weakened key protections of the Voting Rights Act, clearing the way for states to redraw districts with less federal oversight.

The new map splits Tennessee’s 9th congressional district, which had been a Democratic stronghold centered in Memphis, into three separate districts. Each of the new districts contains roughly one-third of the city’s Black voters, effectively dispersing the concentrated Black voting bloc that had previously elected a Democratic representative. The result is that all nine of Tennessee’s congressional districts are now Republican-leaning, according to the newly approved plan.

The decision was made during a special legislative session called by Republican Governor Bill Lee. As lawmakers debated the maps, Democratic representatives protested on the floor, with some locking arms and others handing out Confederate flags in symbolic opposition. Outside the state capitol in Nashville, demonstrators gathered to protest the redistricting, with some shouting “No Jim Crow” and blowing air horns. State troopers were deployed to manage the crowd and maintain order.

“If Republican policies are so great, why are we changing the lines to rig elections?” asked Vincent Dixie, a Democratic state representative from Nashville, during the debate. “Where is your humanity in this?”

The new congressional map now awaits Governor Lee’s signature. If approved, Tennessee will become the first state to implement new congressional districts following the Supreme Court’s recent ruling, which struck down a key provision of the Voting Rights Act that had previously required federal preclearance for changes in jurisdictions with a history of racial discrimination. Legal experts warn that the decision could embolden other Southern states, including Louisiana, Alabama, and South Carolina, to pursue similar redistricting measures.

The Tennessee move underscores the national debate over voting rights and representation, particularly for minority communities. Advocates for fair redistricting argue that the changes disproportionately affect Black voters, while supporters of the new maps contend that the process is a legitimate exercise of state legislative authority.

The approved map is the latest in a series of high-profile redistricting battles across the United States, reflecting broader political divisions over how electoral boundaries should be drawn and who they should serve. As the Tennessee case moves forward, it will likely set a precedent for how other states proceed with their own redistricting efforts in the coming months.

For those seeking more information or wishing to comment on the redistricting process, the Tennessee Comptroller’s office provides maps and contact information for inquiries at Redistricting@cot.tn.gov or by calling 615.401.7773.