Tennessee enacts new US House map carving up majority-Black district in Memphis

Tennessee lawmakers approved a new U.S. House map on Thursday that breaks up the state’s only majority-Black district in Memphis, reshaping it to benefit Republicans. The final vote in the Senate occurred amid protests, with Democratic state Sen. Charlane Oliver standing on her desk to denounce the redistricting as a 'Jim Crow' effort, while demonstrators chanted and blew air horns in the galleries. Republican leadership adjourned the session early and sent the map to Gov. Bill Lee, who signed it into law within hours. The NAACP Tennessee State Conference immediately filed a lawsuit in state court, arguing the mid-decade redistricting is illegal. The new map alters Tennessee’s 9th District, currently represented by white Democrat Steve Cohen, stretching it eastward and northward toward Nashville suburbs. Republicans claim the changes were based on population shifts and political data, not race, though Democrats reject this, calling the map a racist tool. Tennessee is the first state to redraw congressional districts since the U.S. Supreme Court weakened federal protections under the Voting Rights Act last week, allowing states to prioritize partisan gains over minority representation. Louisiana, Alabama, and South Carolina are also moving to redraw districts, with Louisiana postponing its congressional primary to adjust its map. Alabama’s legislature is set to vote on a bill that could upend its primaries if courts approve the changes, while South Carolina Republicans proposed a map aiming for a full GOP sweep. The Supreme Court’s ruling last week struck down Louisiana’s second Black-majority district, giving Republicans legal cover to eliminate similar districts that historically elected Democrats. Tennessee’s redistricting follows a state law repeal allowing mid-decade map changes and extends candidate qualifying until May 15. The move is part of a broader national effort, with Republicans seeking up to 14 new House seats and Democrats countering with potential gains of 10. Tennessee’s action marks the ninth state to redraw districts since Texas led the push last year, intensifying partisan battles ahead of the November elections. Protests disrupted both chambers as lawmakers voted, with state troopers holding back demonstrators in hallways. The new map’s impact extends beyond Memphis, reshaping western and central Tennessee districts. While Republicans frame the changes as demographic adjustments, critics argue they dilute Black voting power, echoing historical disenfranchisement tactics.