Tennessee GOP Map Would Dismantle State's Only Democratic District
Proposed map splits Memphis-based Black-majority district into three Republican-leaning districts, risking elimination of Tennessee's lone Democratic U.S. House seat.
Raw StoryDems in Tennessee alarmed over proposed congressional redistricting map
Daily CallerTennessee Releases Proposed Map Eliminating Its Sole Democratic District
RedStateTennessee GOP Moves Fast After Supreme Court Ruling With Map Targeting Dem Seat
NBC NewsRepublicans unveil proposed congressional map that carves up Tennessee's lone Democratic district
Overview
Republican legislative leaders in Tennessee released a proposed congressional map on Wednesday that would eliminate the state's only Democratic-controlled district.
The proposal comes a week after a Supreme Court ruling that limited the use of race in drawing congressional districts and has prompted GOP-led redraws in several Southern states.
Democrats and activists protested the plan, with Rep. Steve Cohen calling it "a blatant, corrupt power grab" and Rep. Justin Pearson labeling it "racist gerrymandering," according to reports.
Under the plan, the Black-majority 9th District based in Memphis would be split into three Republican-leaning districts, potentially dissolving Tennessee's lone Democratic House seat and dividing the Memphis metro of more than 1 million people.
Speaker Cameron Sexton and Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson filed bills to allow new maps more than once each decade and said they expect floor votes as soon as Thursday, with Tennessee primaries scheduled for Aug. 6.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as a partisan, racially targeted power grab by emphasizing racial impacts and Democratic outrage. Editorial choices — the “dismantle” headline, leading with the Supreme Court ruling, and prominent placement of Cohen’s “blatant, corrupt power grab” and Pearson’s “racist gerrymandering” quotes — marginalize Republican explanation.