Tennessee’s Republican-led legislature approved a new congressional map that breaks apart Memphis and Shelby County, the state’s only majority‑Black district. The map “divides Black voters in Memphis and Shelby County across three majority-white districts,” which would likely secure Republicans all nine of the state’s congressional seats. State leaders argue the Supreme Court’s recent ruling allows redistricting “based off partisan politics,” but many Memphis residents and civil rights groups say the change weakens Black voting power and removes long‑standing representation.
The ACLU, the NAACP, and several Memphis voters and organizations have filed lawsuits to stop the map from taking effect before the August primary. One lawsuit argues the map “intentionally discriminates against Black voters in Memphis,” while another says the sudden mid‑decade redistricting could cause “chaos, confusion and disenfranchisement.” All three federal challenges have been assigned to the same judge, who has already denied one request for a temporary restraining order but has not ruled on others. A separate state lawsuit argues the process violated Tennessee law by redrawing maps outside the normal Census cycle.
Across Memphis and the newly drawn districts, residents and local leaders describe deep frustration and fear that their voices will be diluted. Pastor J. Lawrence Turner said the split could make some people feel, “Well, what’s the use of voting?” while Democratic voters called the change “totally racist from the core.” Republicans, however, argue the new districts better reflect the state’s mix of urban, suburban, and even rural communities. Even supporters admit the new districts will be challenging to represent, but they say voters can hold their representatives accountable. As the legal battles continue, Tennesseans are left questioning what representation really will look like under the new map.
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Sources:
- https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/07/tennessee-republicans-redistricting-voting-rights-act-midterms-00910430?cid=apn
- https://www.aclu.org/cases/sherman-v-hargett#legal-documents
- https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-discusses-gerrymandering-and-voting-rights-judiciary
- https://www.npr.org/2026/05/15/nx-s1-5822329/memphis-gerrymandering-representation-voting-rights
- https://sos.tn.gov/announcements/2026-congressional-redistricting
- https://tennesseelookout.com/2026/05/19/three-federal-challenges-to-tennessee-redistricting-consolidated-into-one-case/
