Tennessee Republicans pass map splitting up state’s lone majority-Black district

BREAKING NEWSMay. 7, 2026, 6:25 PM UTC2026 Election2026 ElectionTennessee Republicans pass map splitting up state’s lone majority-Black districtThe new map, which comes in response to last week’s U.S. Supreme’s redistricting ruling, puts Republicans in position to pick up a House seat in the midterm elections. Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00The Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville in 2024.George Walker IV / AP fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleBy Jane C. TimmTennessee’s Republican-led Legislature passed a new congressional map splitting up the state’s lone majority-Black district, swiftly responding to the U.S. Supreme Court’s major redistricting ruling last week.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.The redrawn district lines, which Gov. Bill Lee is expecected to sign into law, put Republicans in position to gain a seat in this fall’s midterm elections and secure full control over Tennessee’s congressional delegation.The new map carves up a Memphis-based seat held by longtime Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., into three districts, spreading the Democratic voters into more rural, Republican districts that stretch hundreds of miles east. It also further splits the Nashville metropolitan area into five districts. The long districts run across cross Tennessee’s distinct geographic regions and tie voters from different media markets and time zones together to achieve the desired partisan impact.The Tennessee state House passed the map without any Republican speaking in defense of it. When one member rose to speak, members of the public watching the proceedings from the gallery began chanting and yelling so loudly the House speaker called the vote as Democratic members stood and walked out on the session. “This is not a special session. This is a white power rally and a white power grab,” said Democratic state Rep. Gloria Johnson, who represents Knoxville. “Vote yes — you’re telling everyone you’re...