Nashville, Tennessee — Tennessee Republicans approved a new congressional district map Wednesday that dismantles the state’s only majority-Black U.S. House district, triggering immediate criticism from Democrats and civil rights advocates who argue the plan weakens minority political representation.
The new map restructures the Memphis-based district currently represented by Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen by dividing Democratic-heavy areas across multiple Republican-leaning districts. Republicans said the changes better reflect Tennessee’s conservative political makeup and cited a recent Supreme Court ruling involving the Voting Rights Act as legal justification for the redistricting effort.
Gov. Bill Lee called a special legislative session to advance the proposal following the Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which narrowed requirements for states to create majority-minority districts under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
The map also reshapes Nashville-area districts and spreads Democratic urban voters into larger suburban and rural districts represented by Republicans. GOP lawmakers argued the revised map creates districts based on geographic and political considerations rather than race.
Democrats, voting rights advocates, and protesters condemned the changes, warning the plan dilutes Black voting strength and reduces the ability of minority communities to elect candidates of their choice. Legal challenges are expected in federal court as opponents prepare to challenge the map before the 2026 midterm elections.
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