Tennessee Successfully Redraws Congressional Map
Tennessee Today

Last week, the Tennessee legislature passed a new congressional map that would secure the 9th Congressional District for Republicans, making Tennessee a 9-0 state.

Source: Tennessee Comptroller

The special session garnered national attention, sparking unruly protests in the Tennessee State Capitol. Protestors made repeated attempts to disrupt hearings and proceedings, which ultimately shut down open discussion.

The redrawing of district lines reflects a broader shift in Tennessee’s demographics and an urgency to ensure Tennesseans are properly represented. This isn’t new; during redistricting in 2022, Republicans cited that urban Democratic voters shouldn’t dominate single districts. Simply put, the loud minority shouldn’t be leading the state. 

 

Several states are following Tennessee’s lead, and redrawing their maps to be more friendly to Republicans. Other states that have such redistricting plans include South Carolina and Alabama.

 

“The map…was drafted based on the census, the population related to the last census, but it was absolutely drafted on politics…based on court rulings, this gives us a unique opportunity to, for the first time in history, to have an all-Republican delegation sent from Tennessee to Washington D.C. to represent conservative values. To represent conservative principles,” explained Rep. Jason Zachary (R-Knoxville) on the House floor. “This gives us a historic opportunity, so we’re taking advantage of that as the supermajority in this body. So, that’s why we’re doing it.”

Shortly after Gov. Bill Lee signed the new map into law, State Senator Brent Taylor announced his run for the newly drawn 9th Congressional District. Senator Marsha Blackburn, one of the first to make a public plea for the state’s redistricting, proudly endorsed his candidacy following his announcement, along with Tennessee Senator Bill Hagerty.

Source: Facebook/Marsha Blackburn