The Tennessee General Assembly has approved a new congressional map that dismantles the state’s only majority-Black district, moving quickly following a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on redistricting.
The redrawn boundaries, now awaiting an expected signature from Governor Bill Lee, position Republicans to potentially sweep the state’s congressional delegation in the upcoming midterm elections.
The legislation carves the Memphis-based seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen into three separate pieces. These sections are distributed into rural, Republican-leaning districts that extend hundreds of miles to the east.
Additionally, the map further divides the Nashville metropolitan area across five different districts. These elongated districts frequently bridge disparate geographic regions, media markets, and time zones.
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The House vote was marked by significant tension. No Republican members rose to defend the map on the floor. As the vote was called, spectators in the gallery began chanting and shouting, prompting the House Speaker to move forward with the tally while Democratic members walked out of the session in protest.
“This is not a special session. This is a white power rally and a white power grab,” stated State Rep. Gloria Johnson, a Knoxville Democrat. “Vote yes — you’re telling everyone you’re racist.”
In the Senate, the atmosphere was equally volatile. Protesters could be heard outside the chamber while lawmakers debated the proposal inside. Republican State Sen. John Stevens, the bill’s sponsor, defended the move based on the state’s political leaning.
“Tennessee is a conservative state,” Stevens said. “Its congressional delegation should reflect that.”
Stevens noted that the maps were designed to elect more Republicans based on Census data. However, Democratic lawmakers challenged this logic, pointing out that official Census data does not include partisan affiliation.
U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn praised the move on X, formerly Twitter, following the vote.
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“It’s a great day for Tennessee! Thank you to President @realDonaldTrump for leading the charge, Governor @BillLeeTN, and to the legislators who worked quickly and diligently to make this possible,” Blackburn wrote. “This is how we cement President Trump’s agenda and usher in America’s Golden Age here in Tennessee, and how we become America’s conservative leader.”
The map passed the Senate despite visible protests from lawmakers, including one senator who stood on a desk displaying a sheet with the phrases “No Jim Crow 2.0” and “Stop the TN Steal,” while others turned their backs to the dais.
Tennessee is the ninth state to approve new congressional lines this cycle. This mid-decade redistricting surge followed a 2023 Supreme Court decision that altered racial gerrymandering protections under the Voting Rights Act. Similar redistricting efforts are currently being considered or prepared by Republican leadership in Louisiana, Alabama, and South Carolina.
Current projections suggest Republicans could gain up to 14 seats nationwide through these redistricting efforts, while Democrats may pick up 10. Several of these maps remain subject to ongoing litigation.
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