The Postscript to the Tennessee Democrat Redistricting Meltdowns Is Just Chef's Kiss

As RedState previously reported, red states have not wasted any time since the Supreme Court decision in the Louisiana v. Callais case, which ruled that congressional redistricting based solely on race is unconstitutional. States like Alabama, Mississippi, and South Carolina are putting the wheels in motion to put new or previously drawn congressional maps in place ahead of the 2026 midterms.

The Tennessee General Assembly has also been quick to act, debuting a new map on Wednesday that could effectively make the state 9-0 GOP in terms of congressional representation instead of 8-1 R/D.

On Thursday, the Republican-controlled House passed the map, with the Republican-controlled Senate quickly following, as we also reported. Not surprisingly, there were numerous Democrat meltdowns, including from woketivist state Rep. Justin Pearson (D-Memphis), who appeared to shove a state trooper for the apparent crime of trying to escort his (Pearson's) brother out of the rowdy House gallery.

Prior to that disgraceful scene was this one, where Pearson proclaimed on the House floor that the maps were "racist tools of white supremacy at the behest of the most powerful white supremacist in the United States of America, Donald J. Trump."

Pearson also declared that "you will take the only black-majority district from us. But I want you to know: No matter what you do, no matter how much you try to break us and make us bend and quit — we will still be here."

Watch:

Everyone needs to watch @Justinjpearson's floor speech from the TN State House.

"Today, you will take the only Black-majority district from us. But I want you to know: No matter what you do, no matter how much you try to break us & make us bend & quit — we will still be here." pic.twitter.com/8FKHlT2sd3
— Justice Democrats (@justicedems) May 7, 2026

What Pearson conveniently left out, of course, is that the district in question (TN-09) is represented by an old white dude named Steve Cohen, who has held the seat for nearly 20 years:

I can't believe those mean republicans took a seat away from this fine upstanding black congressman who has been in office for nearly 20 years uplifting his fellow blacks in the Memphis area. Things have gotten so much better there in the last 2 decades. pic.twitter.com/RDnF9HZ5iK
— 𝕯ug (@DugShrugged) May 7, 2026

Now here is where it gets especially interesting, and where we get to the heart of Pearson's anger.

Cohen has faced primary challenges over the years from black Democrats who think the district should only be represented by a black person.

But guess which black Democrat challenged him this election cycle? Justin Pearson. Pearson is all stompy feet because he's about to lose his chance at becoming a congressman in a district that was initially designed for the purposes of electing a black Democrat, but which has elected a white one for the last two decades.

OMG, they took away "the only Black-majority district" that has been represented by the WHITE man since 2007👇
This "outrage" is not about a "black-majority district," It's about democrats LOSING CONTROL OVER AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THAT DISTRICT pic.twitter.com/g0UcrcFbqs
— Karma Zapati (@placidly1) May 7, 2026

Cry harder, Justin.

Oh, and here's another fun fact: After Cohen was first elected, he tried to carry through with a campaign promise to pursue becoming the first white member of the Congressional Black Caucus, since he would be representing a majority-black district.

It... didn't work:

As a white liberal running in a majority African American district, Tennessee Democrat Stephen I. Cohen made a novel pledge on the campaign trail last year: If elected, he would seek to become the first white member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Now that he’s a freshman in Congress, Cohen has changed his plans. He said he has dropped his bid after several current and former caucus members made it clear to him that whites need not apply.

“I think they’re real happy I’m not going to join,” said Cohen, who succeeded Rep. Harold Ford, D-Tenn., in the Memphis district. “It’s their caucus and they do things their way. You don’t force your way in. You need to be invited.”

You cannot make it up. You truly can't.

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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