Tennessee Republicans Unveil New Congressional Map Carving Up Majority-Black House District
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- Tennessee Republicans proposed a new congressional map that divides Memphis, a majority-Black city, into three districts, aiming to weaken the state's only majority-Black Democratic district.
- The redistricting is seen as a strategy to help Republicans flip the Ninth Congressional District, which has traditionally favored Democrats due to its large Black population.
- Democratic lawmakers and Black leaders have condemned the map as a modern form of voter suppression reminiscent of Jim Crow-era tactics, accusing Republicans of undermining Black voters' influence.
- Republicans, supported by former President Trump, argue the map complies with a recent Supreme Court ruling that tightened standards for racial gerrymandering under the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
- The Tennessee General Assembly, dominated by a Republican supermajority, is expected to quickly approve the new congressional map despite opposition.
