UMVA has learned that a federal judge has struck down a bid to halt Tennessee’s newly drawn congressional map, a decision that keeps the state’s controversial redistricting plan in play.
The map, approved by Tennessee Republicans, erased Democrat Rep. Steve Cohen’s long‑standing Memphis district—a move that has shocked voters and politicians alike.
In a dramatic courtroom showdown, U.S. District Judge William Campbell, a Trump appointee, denied a temporary restraining order that would have paused the map’s use while a three‑judge panel reviewed the case.
Advocates for black voters, backed by the ACLU and its Tennessee affiliate, argued that the new lines were a blatant act of racial discrimination, created just before the August primary filing deadline.
They claimed the map dismantles a majority‑black district and replaces it with a 9‑0 GOP‑favored configuration, effectively silencing a significant portion of Memphis’s electorate.
The judge’s ruling delivers a blow to Democrats who have been rallying to restore Cohen’s district and to challenge the broader redistricting war sweeping the country.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the decision comes amid a flurry of legal battles over gerrymandering, as states grapple with the balance between partisan power and fair representation.
With the map now officially in force, Tennessee’s political landscape will shift dramatically, leaving many to wonder how the new boundaries will shape the state’s future elections.
