Republicans’ New Tennessee Map Could Flip the State’s Only Democratic District

The proposed map would divide Memphis and Shelby County into three districts, something one candidate called an “attack on our Black majority district.”

Protesters march against Tennessee redistricting.

Protesters march in Nashville ahead of a special session of the Tennessee state legislature to redraw the congressional map. George Walker IV/AP

Tennessee Republicans proposed a new congressional map on Wednesday that would divide the state’s sole majority-Black district and could lead to GOP control of all nine House seats.

The move follows the Supreme Court handing down a ruling late last month that gutted a key part of the Voting Rights Act, making it harder to challenge discriminatory voting maps and laws.

The proposed map divides Memphis and Shelby County into three districts, giving Republicans a high chance of flipping the state’s only Democratic-held seat, which includes the majority-Black city. That seat is held by Rep. Steve Cohen.