Tennessee Republicans on Wednesday unveiled a proposed congressional map that slices into the state’s majority-Black district and will likely secure them an all-GOP federal delegation.
The redraw comes as Republican-led Southern states scramble to enact new maps in the wake of last week’s Supreme Court ruling that weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and opened the door to states blowing up blue districts drawn to protect the voting power of racial minorities.
Tennessee’s new map aims to draw the state’s lone Democratic congressional representative — Rep. Steve Cohen — out of his Memphis-area seat by splitting up majority-Black Shelby County. It also divides Maury County, likely delivering a more favorable district to Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), who is onthe Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s target list.
The plan is supported by Republican leadership in both chambers of the Tennessee General Assembly and is expected to pass Thursday.
“The Supreme Court has opined that redistricting, like the judicial system, should be color-blind,” said Tenesseee House Speaker Cameron Sexton in a social media post. “The decision indicated states can redistrict based off partisan politics. Today, Tennessee joins other red and blue states in redrawing their congressional maps.”
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, called the state assembly into a special session on Friday following the Supreme Court ruling. The assembly adopted a set of rules limiting public comment in an attempt to expedite the new map.
“House Republicans remain well-positioned to re-elect our incumbents, compete aggressively across the map, and grow the majority in November,” National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Reilly Richardson said in a statement.
Andrew Howard contributed reporting.