2026 Tennessee redistricting
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| Harris (D)
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In April 2026, lawmakers from the Tennessee General Assembly began considering a mid-decade redistricting plan of their state's congressional districts ahead of the 2026 United States House of Representatives elections. On April 29, 2026, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Louisiana v. Callais that Louisiana's current redistricting map was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander under the Fifteenth Amendment. Following the decision, prominent Republican politicians began pushing for the redrawing of Tennessee's 9th congressional district, which covers most of Memphis and much of Shelby County. It is the state's only majority-minority district and its lone Democratic seat. On May 1, 2026, Governor Bill Lee called for a special session of the state legislature beginning on May 5 to review the state’s congressional map. The new map passed in both the state House and Senate on May 7, and Lee signed it into law the same day.
Background
On April 29, 2026, the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in Louisiana v. Callais, partially overturning Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.[2] The provision had helped guarantee majority-minority districts by preventing districting plans that would dilute the ability of racial minorities to elect their own representatives.[3] However, the court found the new Louisiana map to be an illegal racial gerrymander.[4]
The court's decision came amidst a nationwide partisan redistricting campaign that began when President Donald Trump urged the Texas Legislature to redraw their congressional maps in June 2025.[5] Other southern states, including Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi, began reviewing their maps alongside Tennessee following the Supreme Court ruling.[6]
Support
Following the court's decision, many prominent Republicans called for Tennessee to redraw the state's congressional map and eliminate the 9th district's majority-minority and Democratic seat.[7] The proposed redistricting would result in all nine of the state's congressional districts to become Republican leaning.[8] On April 29, 2026, U.S. senator Marsha Blackburn posted on X in support of redistricting in order to "cement @realDonaldTrump’s agenda and the Golden Age of America."[8][9] On the same day, U.S. representative John Rose similarly posted on X that, "Memphis deserves Republican representation in Congress."[10][7] On April 30, Trump posted on Truth Social that he "had a very good conversation with Governor Bill Lee," and that Lee "would work hard to correct the unconstitutional flaw in the Congressional Maps of the Great State of Tennessee."[11][12] Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton wrote on the second day of the special session that the Supreme Court's decision in Louisiana v. Callais, "indicated states can redistrict based off partisan politics."[13][14]
Opposition
The proposal to redraw Tennessee's congressional districts has been met by universal opposition from the state's Democratic leaders, with the move being described as racist gerrymandering.[15][16] On April 29, 2026, U.S. representative Steve Cohen wrote on X that, "Trump and the GOP are coming for the power of Black voters in Memphis."[17] On May 1, Democratic politicians denounced the proposal in a news conference held in Memphis outside of the National Civil Rights Museum, formally the Lorraine Motel, where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968.[16][18] Speakers included Cohen, state Senate Minority Leader Raumesh Akbari, and state Senate Democratic Caucus Chair London Lamar.[15][16] State Representative Justin J. Pearson, whose state House district makes up west Shelby County, also held a press conference the same day and launched a campaign called "Defend District 9".[19][20] Hundreds of protesters gathered at the Tennessee State Capitol and Cordell Hull State Office Building throughout the three-day special session from May 5–7.[5][21][22]
On May 7, 2026, District 19 representative Charlane Oliver disrupted a special session of the legislature held to redraw the congressional map. She stood on her desk, unfurled a banner with the text "Jim Crow 2.0" and "Stop the TN Steal", and sang the hymn "Lift Every Voice and Sing". State senate speaker Randy McNally blocked Oliver from voting on the map, and later issued a statement calling her conduct "disgraceful".[23]
Legislative history
On May 1, 2026, Governor Bill Lee signed a proclamation that called for a special session of the Tennessee General Assembly to begin at the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville on May 5 in order to review the state's congressional maps.[24] The proclamation stated that the statutory changes would help "facilitate 2026 congressional elections."[25]
Since 1972, Tennessee state law had mandated that "districts may not be changed between apportionments," barring the state legislature from redrawing congressional maps mid-decade. On May 4, State House Speaker Cameron Sexton filed legislation to remove the language in order to pave the way for redistricting.[26][27] On May 7, the state legislature approved a bill repealing the provision and it was signed into law the same day by Lee.[28]
On May 6, state Republicans unveiled a proposed map showing Memphis and Shelby County carved up three ways between the 5th, 8th, and 9th congressional districts.[5][14] On May 7, the new map was passed by both the Tennessee House of Representatives and the Tennessee Senate.[29][30] Lee signed the bill into law later that day.[31] Tennessee became the first state to pass a new congressional district map following the Supreme Court's weakening of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in Louisiana v. Callais the week before.[30]
Additionally on May 7, legislators adopted legislation to support the new map by creating a special qualifying period for candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives in the state.[32][33][34] The original March 10 deadline was extended to May 15, with state political parties having until May 17 to deem if candidates are bona fide members.[32][34] Candidates who already qualified for their primary could stay in their newly drawn district, switch to the district that had their previous number, or withdraw entirely.[32][33]
Legal challenges
Hours before the new map was passed, U.S. representative Steve Cohen, who represents Tennessee's 9th congressional district, announced he planned to sue.[35] Hours after the new map was signed into law, the NAACP Tennessee State Conference sued to stop its implementation.[36]
Primaries for the 2026 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee went ahead as planned on August 6, 2026.[37]
Partisan breakdown of new congressional maps
|
Republican gain
Republican hold
|
| District | Incumbent | 2024 U.S. presidential result | Notional outcome | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 map[38] | New map[39] | |||
| 1st district | Diana Harshbarger (R) | +57.84% | +57.84% | Rep. hold |
| 2nd district | Tim Burchett (R) | +33.86% | +33.86% | Rep. hold |
| 3rd district | Chuck Fleischmann (R) | +35.89% | +35.73% | Rep. hold |
| 4th district | Scott DesJarlais (R) | +43.58% | +23.93% | Rep. hold |
| 5th district | Andy Ogles (R) | +17.90% | +23.08% | Rep. hold |
| 6th district | John Rose (R) | +35.16% | +26.51% | Rep. hold |
| 7th district | Matt Van Epps (R) | +22.21% | +22.40% | Rep. hold |
| 8th district | David Kustoff (R) | +41.63% | +20.14% | Rep. hold |
| 9th district | Steve Cohen (D) | −42.66% | +21.15% | Rep. gain |
See also
- 2025–2026 United States redistricting
- 2026 Florida redistricting
- 2026 Virginia redistricting amendment
- 2025 California Proposition 50
- 2025 Missouri redistricting
- 2025 Texas redistricting
References
- ^ "Tennessee". All About Redistricting. Retrieved November 1, 2025.
- ^ Sherman, Mark (April 29, 2026). "Supreme Court weakens the Voting Rights Act and aids GOP efforts to control the House". apnews.com. Associated Press. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
- ^ Fields, Gary; Kim Chandler (April 30, 2026). "Supreme Court hollows out a landmark law that had protected minority voting rights for 6 decades". apnews.com. Associated Press. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
- ^ Sample, James (April 29, 2026). "5 things to know about the Supreme Court's landmark decision on the Voting Rights Act". abcnews.com. ABC News. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
- ^ a b c Cochrane, Emily (May 6, 2026). "Republicans Unveil Map Carving Up Tennessee's Majority-Black House District". nytimes.com. The New York Times. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
- ^ Lieb, David A. (April 29, 2026). "Supreme Court ruling on race-based redistricting prompts quick action in some states". apnews.com. Associated Press. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
- ^ a b Cochrane, Emily (May 1, 2026). "Republicans Want Tennessee's Last Democratic House District". nytimes.com. The New York Times. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
- ^ a b Brams, Sophie (April 29, 2026). "Blackburn calls for Tennessee lawmakers to draw all-GOP map". thehill.com. The Hill. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
- ^ Marsha Blackburn [@VoteMarsha] (April 29, 2026). "I urge our state legislature to reconvene to redistrict another Republican seat in Memphis. It's essential to cement @realDonaldTrump's agenda and the Golden Age of America. I've vowed to keep Tennessee a red state, and as Governor, I'll do everything I can to make this map a reality" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
- ^ John Rose [@JohnRoseforTN] (April 29, 2026). "Memphis deserves Republican representation in Congress. Today's Supreme Court ruling paves the way for that. I trust our legislative leaders will move quickly to make this a reality. As Governor, I will be prepared to lead on this effort" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
- ^ Trump, Donald (April 30, 2026). "Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)". truthsocial.com. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
- ^ Wilson, Mallory (April 30, 2026). "Trump says Tennessee governor vows to redistrict state". thehill.com. The Hill. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
- ^ Cameron Sexton [@CSexton25] (May 6, 2026). "The Supreme Court has opined that redistricting, like the judicial system, should be color-blind" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
- ^ a b Jones, Vivian (May 6, 2026). "Republicans unveil proposed congressional map that carves up Memphis". knoxnews.com. The Tennessean. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
- ^ a b Coleman, Alex; Raven Copeland (May 1, 2026). "TN Democrats warn Memphis could be target in GOP redistricting effort". wreg.com. WREG. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
- ^ a b c Jones, Vivian (May 1, 2026). "Tennessee to redistrict in effort to flip Memphis congressional seat". knoxnews.com. The Tennessean. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
- ^ Steve Cohen [@RepCohen] (April 30, 2026). "Trump and the GOP are coming for the power of Black voters in Memphis. They emasculated the VRA, now Trump needs them to finish the job by November to save his majority in Congress. I'm not backing down. My team and I are already in touch with experienced voting rights attorneys to try and stop this" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
- ^ Lieb, David A. (May 2, 2026). "Redistricting battle intensifies in states after US Supreme Court ruling on Voting Rights Act". apnews.com. Associated Press. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
- ^ Bennett, Sarai (May 1, 2026). "Rep. Pearson defends District 9 after Voting Rights Act ruling". wreg.com. WREG. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
- ^ "Defend District 9 Home Page". defenddistrict9.com. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
- ^ Taylor, Sarah Grace (May 7, 2026). "Tennessee Passes Redistricting Map, Arrests Protesters in Final Day of Special Session Marked by Burning Flag, Walkouts". Nashville Banner. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
- ^ "News Wrap: Tennessee passes new congressional map, sparking protest". PBS News Hour. Washington, D.C. May 7, 2026. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
- ^ Becker, Amanda (May 8, 2026). "She did everything she could to prevent the breakup of a majority-Black congressional district". The 19th. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
- ^ "Gov. Lee Calls Special Legislative Session to Review Congressional Map". tn.gov. Office of the Governor. May 1, 2026. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
- ^ "State of Tennessee Proclamation by the Governor" (PDF). tnsos.net. Tennessee Secretary of State. May 1, 2026. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
- ^ Jones, Vivian (May 6, 2026). "Is it legal to redraw congressional maps now? Inside TN redistricting". knoxnews.com. The Tennessean. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
- ^ Wethington, Caleb (May 5, 2026). "Amendment introduced to remove prohibition on changing congressional districts in TN. Here's what that means for the special session". wsmv.com. WSMV. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
- ^ Bacallao, Marianna (May 7, 2026). "Tennessee strikes down decades-old law against redistricting". WPLN News. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
- ^ "UPDATE: Tennessee redistricting plan passes House and Senate, heads to Gov. Lee". WRCB-TV. Chattanooga. May 7, 2026. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
- ^ a b Loller, Travis; Kim Chandler; Jeffrey Collins; David A. Lieb (May 7, 2026). "Tennessee enacts new US House map carving up majority-Black district in Memphis". apnews.com. Associated Press. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
- ^ McCullough, Erin (May 7, 2026). "TN Special Session: Gov. Lee signs redistricting bill into law that carves up Memphis". WKRN-TV. Nashville. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
- ^ a b c Walker, Kylie (May 7, 2026). "Notice of Revised Congressional Districts and Special Qualifying Period". sos.tn.gov. Tennessee Secretary of State. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
- ^ a b "UPDATE: Tennessee Revises Congressional Districts, Opens Special Candidate Qualifying Period". wgnsradio.com. WGNS. May 7, 2026. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
- ^ a b Stephenson, Cassandra (May 7, 2026). "Bill to set new election deadlines for redrawn TN districts advances despite voter confusion concern". tennesseelookout.com. Tennessee Lookout. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
- ^ Muckerman, Brooke (May 7, 2026). "Rep. Cohen says he plans to sue over TN District 9 redistricting plan". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
- ^ "UPDATE: NAACP sues to block Tennessee redistricting map over majority-Black district changes". WRCB-TV. Chattanooga. May 8, 2026. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
- ^ "2026 State Primary Election Dates". ncsl.org. National Conference of State Legislatures. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
- ^ https://davesredistricting.org/maps#viewmap::9185d1ce-1556-46ab-9628-6749769d0262
- ^ https://davesredistricting.org/maps#viewmap::7ef89616-97a7-459f-bd9f-035567f49746