Memphis House District Faces Split Under Tennessee GOP Redistricting Plan
Tennessee Republicans are moving to redraw the state’s congressional map in a special session that could divide the Memphis-based, majority-Black district represented by Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen.
The proposal is part of a widening national fight over mid-decade redistricting before the 2026 elections. AP reports that Republican-led efforts in Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana and South Carolina are advancing after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling involving Louisiana’s congressional map changed the legal landscape around race and voting districts.
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The stakes are larger than one district. Redistricting fights could affect Black representation in Congress and the balance of power in the U.S. House. NCSL says eight states have already implemented new congressional maps, while Ballotpedia tracks additional states with maps changing or under legal pressure.
Civil rights advocates and Democrats argue the Tennessee plan would dilute Memphis voters’ power. Republicans have framed redistricting as a legal and political response to the new court landscape.
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