Tennessee legislature passes new congressional map, and the Democrats are throwing a predictable tantrum
By Easton Martin | May 8, 2026
Tennessee lawmakers finalized a new congressional map on Thursday that could eliminate the last remaining Democratic seat in the state. The Republican controlled legislature passed the measure despite intense opposition from the minority party.
This new map targets the 9th Congressional District, which is currently the only majority Black district in Tennessee and a longtime Democratic stronghold in Memphis.
If Governor Bill Lee signs the bill as expected, the state will likely send an entirely Republican delegation of nine representatives to Washington. Republican leaders argue that these changes reflect the conservative lean of the state as a whole. Senator Marsha Blackburn pitched the map following a recent Supreme Court ruling on redistricting.
The legislative session was marked by significant unrest. Democratic lawmakers in the House linked arms and used air horns to disrupt the proceedings while Tennessee State Troopers were called to the galleries to manage protesters.
State Senator London Lamar called redistricting a “political monopoly” and an “insult to the Black community”. She warned that the decision has awakened a sleeping giant among voters.
