Tennessee Republicans on Wednesday released a proposed congressional map designed to dismantle the state's only Democratic-held seat, targeting nine-term Rep. Steve Cohen of Memphis. The plan, advanced by GOP legislative leaders, would carve up the predominantly Black district that Cohen has represented since 2007, distributing its voters among three neighboring Republican-leaning districts.
The move comes as part of a broader national push by former President Donald Trump for GOP-controlled states to engage in mid-decade redistricting, capitalizing on a recent Supreme Court decision that cleared the way for partisan map-drawing. The high court's ruling last week in a Louisiana case found that state's congressional map constituted an illegal racial gerrymander, but also signaled that partisan considerations alone do not violate the Voting Rights Act. That decision has sparked new redistricting chaos ahead of the midterms, emboldening Republican legislatures in several states to pursue aggressive redraws.
Memphis Divided
Under the Tennessee proposal, the city of Memphis—currently the anchor of Cohen's 9th Congressional District—would be split into three separate districts. Each of those districts is currently represented by a Republican, making it all but certain that Cohen would face an uphill battle for reelection in a redrawn, heavily Republican constituency. The district has been a Democratic stronghold since Reconstruction, but the GOP plan would effectively dilute the city's Black voting strength.
Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R) defended the map on social media, writing: "The Supreme Court has opined that redistricting, like the judicial system, should be color-blind. The decision indicated states can redistrict based off partisan politics." He added: "Today, Tennessee joins other red and blue states in redrawing their congressional maps." The new map was posted on X, depicted in Republican red.
The proposal lands as Trump-backed challengers have been targeting state lawmakers who previously voted against redistricting plans favorable to the GOP. In Indiana, for instance, Trump-backed challengers toppled five GOP senators in a revenge campaign over redistricting votes, illustrating the high political stakes of map-drawing.
Political Calculations
If enacted, the map would give Republicans all nine of Tennessee's U.S. House seats, a clean sweep in a state where the GOP already holds supermajorities in both legislative chambers and the governor's office. The current delegation consists of eight Republicans and Cohen, the lone Democrat. The proposal is expected to face immediate legal challenges from voting rights groups, who argue that dismantling the majority-Black district violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by diluting minority voting power.
Cohen, a Memphis native and former state senator, has been a vocal critic of the plan, calling it a racially motivated power grab. "This is about silencing the voices of Black voters in Memphis," he said in a statement. "They can't beat me at the ballot box, so they're trying to erase my district." The congressman has survived previous redistricting attempts, but the current proposal represents the most aggressive effort yet to oust him.
The timing of the proposal is notable: state lawmakers convened at the Capitol on Wednesday specifically to consider the map, fast-tracking the process ahead of the 2026 filing deadlines. The special session was called after the Supreme Court's Louisiana ruling, which saw Justices Alito and Jackson clash over the speed of the case. That decision has been widely interpreted as giving states the green light to redraw lines for partisan advantage, as long as race is not the predominant factor.
National Implications
The Tennessee map is part of a wave of redistricting efforts across the country following the Supreme Court's signal. In Louisiana, the ruling has put at least one Democratic seat in jeopardy, while in Ohio, a closely watched House race between Greg Landsman and David Conroy has tightened after redistricting. The GOP's push to use mid-decade map changes to lock in political gains has drawn comparisons to the partisan gerrymandering wars of the early 2020s.
Critics argue that the Tennessee proposal undermines democratic representation and could set a dangerous precedent for other states controlled by a single party. "This isn't about fair maps—it's about rigging the system so that one party never has to compete," said a spokesperson for the Tennessee Democratic Party. "We will fight this in court and at the ballot box."
With the 2026 midterms approaching, the battle over Tennessee's congressional map is likely to become a flashpoint in the national debate over voting rights and partisan gerrymandering. The outcome could determine whether the GOP can achieve a supermajority in the U.S. House, and whether Cohen—or any Democrat—can survive in a state that has grown increasingly red.
