Tennessee Republicans Split Memphis Into 3 Districts, Erasing State’s Only Black-Majority Seat
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 2
Tennessee Republicans Split Memphis Into 3 Districts, Erasing State’s Only Black-Majority Seat
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 2
Memphis was carved into three congressional districts last month, with each holding roughly a third of the city’s Black voters and leaving all 9 Tennessee seats Republican-leaning.
The redraw followed a US Supreme Court ruling that weakened a key Voting Rights Act protection, clearing the way for Republicans to dismantle the state’s lone Democratic, Black-majority district.
Steve Cohen said the new 5th, 8th and 9th districts now contain 29% to 35% of Memphis’s African American voting-age population each, and he plans to retire rather than run under the new map.
Memphis Mayor Paul Young said the split threatens federal advocacy for urban priorities including housing, afterschool programs and workforce training, as local leaders argue rural and suburban interests will dominate representation.