Tennessee’s newly drawn congressional map will remain in effect for the August 6 primary, giving the Republican Party all nine seats in the state.
A three‑judge panel rejected a preliminary injunction requested by Black voters and civil rights groups who argued that the map weakens Black voting power.
The lawsuit follows lawmakers’ redrawing of the map during a May special session after a Supreme Court ruling made it more difficult to challenge redistricting on racial grounds.
The updated plan divides Memphis and Shelby County into three districts, effectively eliminating Tennessee’s only majority‑Black district.
Republican legislators said the map was designed to secure GOP advantage in every district and preserve the party’s House majority.
Judges, appointed by Presidents Trump and Obama, found evidence pointing to partisan motives rather than racial intent behind the redistricting.
The panel concluded that the plaintiffs had not presented meaningful evidence that race, not politics, motivated the new map.
Unlike a 2017 Supreme Court decision that required direct evidence of racial influence, the plaintiffs offered only circumstantial evidence such as the map’s design and demographic data.
A plaintiff in the case expressed disappointment, highlighting the impact on community representation and the importance of maintaining voting power.
The denial of the injunction does not end the lawsuit; the case remains active.
This decision follows a wave of mid‑decade redistricting efforts in several states, with Republicans pursuing new maps in multiple regions and Democrats responding in others.
The broader context underscores ongoing legal and political battles over redistricting and voter influence across the country.
