Tennessee lawmakers pushed through a controversial new congressional map this week, and Black voters across Memphis are now staring at the possibility of losing the strongest political representation they’ve had in generations.
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The Republican-led Legislature approved a plan that breaks apart Tennessee’s only majority-Black congressional district, currently represented by Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen. Under the new map, Memphis voters would be spread across three separate districts tied to largely white, rural Republican areas stretching across the state. Critics say the move was designed to dilute Black voting power ahead of the midterm elections.
The decision comes just days after a major Supreme Court ruling weakened federal protections against racial gerrymandering, opening the door for states to redraw maps with fewer legal restrictions. Tennessee Republicans moved fast, with Gov. Bill Lee calling a special session to get the proposal passed before August primaries begin.
Inside the Capitol, tensions exploded. Protesters shouted from the galleries while Democratic lawmakers walked out during votes. State Rep. Gloria Johnson called the session “a white-power rally and a white-power grab,” while Senate Minority Leader Raumesh Akbari directly challenged lawmakers over what the changes could mean for Black Tennesseans.
“When you had an opportunity to do right, did you vote to make sure that those Black folks in Memphis who believe in this state, who pay their taxes, who work just like everyone else, have a right to be politically represented as well?” Akbari said during debate.
For Black residents, the concern goes beyond politics. Majority-Black districts often help communities elect candidates more likely to advocate on issues like voting rights, criminal justice reform, healthcare access, education funding, and economic investment in historically underserved neighborhoods. Splitting those communities into heavily Republican districts could reduce their collective influence in Washington for years.
Republicans defended the map as a reflection of Tennessee’s conservative voter base. But opponents argue the new lines send a different message entirely: that Black political power is negotiable when control of Congress is on the line.
