NASHVILLE, Tenn.—The Tennessee legislature passed a bill on May 7 that would redistrict the state’s U.S. congressional map to break up the state’s only Democratic district ahead of the midterms.
The legislation passed the state Senate 25–5 after it passed the state House 64–25 with three voting “present.”
The gallery erupted in protests and had to be cleared as Senate lawmakers called for a vote.
The proposal, which passed the Republican-led state House and Senate on Thursday, splits the Democratic stronghold of Memphis into three U.S. congressional seats, up from one, currently held by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.).
If the bill becomes law, all of Tennessee’s nine congressional districts would likely lean Republican, which could eliminate the only Democratic voice representing the Volunteer State in the midterms….
Tennessee Lawmakers Pass Redistricting Bill to Carve Up State’s Lone Blue District
