Tennessee GOP Map Would Split Memphis District as Redistricting Fight Spreads Across U.S.
Tennessee Republicans are moving to redraw the state’s congressional map in a special session that could break apart the Memphis-based district represented by Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen.
The district is centered on Memphis, a majority-Black city, and is Tennessee’s only Democratic-held U.S. House seat. AP reported that Republican Gov. Bill Lee called lawmakers into session to consider a plan urged by President Donald Trump.
The fight is now bigger than Tennessee.
Republican lawmakers in several Southern states are moving after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling involving Louisiana’s congressional map. The Court said Louisiana relied too heavily on race when creating a second Black-majority House district while trying to comply with the Voting Rights Act, according to AP.
That ruling has opened a new political and legal lane for states seeking to revisit districts before the 2026 midterms.
In Tennessee, protesters gathered at the Capitol as the special session began. State Sen. Raumesh Akbari, a Memphis Democrat, called the proposal “an act of hate,” while Cohen said the Memphis district reflects the city’s historic population and community ties. Martin Luther King III also sent Tennessee legislative leaders a letter expressing concern about dividing Memphis’ congressional representation.
Subscribe free for daily political analysis they won’t broadcast. Join 110K+ readers →
Republicans in Alabama, Louisiana and South Carolina are also weighing or advancing redistricting moves. In South Carolina, leaders are considering whether to target the district represented by Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn. In Alabama, lawmakers advanced legislation tied to possible new primaries if the state is allowed to change its U.S. House districts.
The national stakes are clear. NCSL says eight states have implemented new congressional maps during this cycle, while Ballotpedia says several states have already passed new maps or remain under litigation pressure.
The plain-English consequence is that voters in some states may cast ballots in districts very different from the ones they expected, and the outcome could help decide control of Congress.
Subscribe free for daily political analysis they won’t broadcast. Join 110K+ readers →