Federal judges approve new Tennessee map dividing majority-Black district in Memphis
Key Points
- 1. The federal judge panel allowed the new electoral map, which divides the majority-Black Memphis district, to be used in the 6 August primaries.
- 2. The judges stated that the case is highly likely to fail because the plaintiffs could not provide direct evidence that there was a racial motivation in the redistricting.
- 3. The decision is considered part of a strategy to increase the Republican majority in the House of Representatives in the 6 November midterm elections.
- 4. Democrat Steve Cohen, who has represented the district for about twenty years, announced that he will not run for re-election following the new map.
By the Numbers
A panel of federal judges allowed Tennessee to use a new electoral map that splits a congressional district comprising mostly Black voters in the city of Memphis. The decision boosts Republicans' hopes of gaining an additional seat ahead of the 6 August primaries, a development that could help them maintain their narrow majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The plaintiffs argued that Republican lawmakers acted with a motive of racial discrimination; however, the judge panel rejected the request for an injunction, citing the plaintiffs' failure to provide direct evidence of racial motivations. Advocates for the district criticized the decision, noting that the map dilutes the voting power of Black voters. Republicans, on the other hand, argued that they redrew the districts solely for partisan political reasons.
This decision follows the U.S. Supreme Court's striking down of a similar map in Louisiana in late April and its weakening of federal voting rights protections. Under the new map in Tennessee, the boundaries of the district, which had been represented by Democratic Representative Steve Cohen for about twenty years, were redrawn. While Cohen's district was extended hundreds of kilometers to the east, Cohen announced that he ended his efforts to run for re-election.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- 1. S: What does Tennessee's new congressional electoral map change?
- C: The new map divides the congressional district in Memphis, which consists of a majority of Black voters and has long been represented by a Democrat, into three different districts. This situation significantly weakens Democratic representation and the voting power of Black voters in the district.
- 2. S: Why did the federal judges allow this map?
- C: The three-judge panel concluded that the plaintiffs failed to provide direct evidence that the Republicans acted with a racist motivation. The judges noted that the redistricting could be explained by partisan political goals, namely gaining an additional seat.
- 3. S: How will the new map affect the upcoming elections?
- C: While the decision sets the stage for Republicans to gain an advantage in the November midterm elections, it is criticized by those who object to the map for reducing the representation of Black voters.
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