Tennessee GOP Moves Fast After Supreme Court Ruling With Map Targeting Dem Seat

Since the recent Supreme Court ruling affirming that racial gerrymandering of congressional districts is unconstitutional, many states with a majority of Republican districts have decided to play by the same rules the Democrats have long played by and redraw their maps, eliminating districts held by Democrats. The latest to do so is Tennessee, where, on Wednesday, Tennessee Republicans released a newly proposed congressional map. The new map would eliminate the state's sole Democratic district.

News Channel 5 Newsville: Tennessee Republicans have released their newly proposed congressional map that draws out Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) of Memphis

Current map: 8R-1D

Proposed map: 9R-0D pic.twitter.com/0zIjO6U6IP
— Politics & Poll Tracker 📡 (@PollTracker2024) May 6, 2026

On Friday, Gov. Bill Lee called a special session of the State Legislature to begin on May 5 to redraw congressional districts. Lee's focus is on the Memphis area, which is the one Democratic district represented by the often odious Steve Cohen (TN-09), since traditional redistricting took place in 2022 and split the Democratic Nashville area district into three Republican districts. Currently, the 9th congressional district encompasses Memphis, which has a majority-black population. However, the new map would affect all nine districts in the state. Shelby County, where Memphis is located, would be split into three districts, and Nashville would be split between the fourth, sixth, and seventh districts.

State House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville), along with Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin), filed House Bill 7003/Senate Bill 7004 for the redrawing on Monday. Sexton said:

“The Supreme Court has opined that redistricting, like the judicial system, should be color-blind. The decision indicated states like Tennessee can redistrict based on partisan politics. Tennessee’s redistricting will reduce the risk of future legal challenges while promoting sound and strategic conservatism.”

State Sen. John Stevens (R-Huntington) is sponsoring the Senate bill. He said of the Tennessee bill, something that should be happening in other red states as well. “Tennessee is a conservative state, and our congressional delegation should reflect that. This bill ensures it does.”

As in other states, Tennessee Democrats are crying foul. Rep. Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) is running in the Democratic primary for the ninth district and said,

"This map doesn't tell us much of anything at all. But we do know the intention is very clear here to break up the only Black district in Tennessee. That is their intention. That is what this map is reflective to do."

🚨 HOLY CRAP! Democrats are coming to the realization that their Congressional redistricting and gerrymandering may BACKFIRE

Red southern states like Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and South Carolina could OVERCOME the blue cheating — and Florida just made the R+4… pic.twitter.com/igcmoTkmiR
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 5, 2026

HOLY CRAP! Democrats are coming to the realization that their Congressional redistricting and gerrymandering may BACKFIRE
Red southern states like Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and South Carolina could OVERCOME the blue cheating — and Florida just made the R+4 map FINAL
Hakeem Jeffries is flailing!
Republicans need to go for gold and play hardball in the south.
SAVE THE MIDTERMS

ALSO READ: DeSantis Dominates: Florida’s New Redistricting Masterclass

The Supreme Court ruling also prompted Florida to redraw its congressional maps. On Monday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a new map into law for the Sunshine State that could mean up to four new Republican held seats. DeSantis stated that population growth was the reason for the redrawing of the map. He posted on X on Monday, "Signed, sealed and delivered." Missouri is another red state where maps were recently redrawn, but the state does still include one Democratic district. While there isn't time to redraw the map again before November, it could happen later.

This system may have been necessary at one time, but thankfully, no more. The great Thomas Sowell once said, “When people get used to preferential treatment, equal treatment seems like discrimination.” It's among the many things Democrats are failing to understand.

For more than 50 years, Tennessee law has blocked state lawmakers from redrawing congressional districts except every 10 years after the U.S. census.

Republican leaders are planning to change that this week.https://t.co/sVXQRWLiDo
— Vivian Jones (@Vivian_E_Jones) May 4, 2026

Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.

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