Tennessee Republican lawmakers and Gov. Bill Lee approved a new congressional map on Thursday, May 6, 2026, that eliminates the state's only majority-Black House district.

The redistricting move targets the lone Democratic seat in the state's nine-member congressional delegation [1]. By dissolving the majority-Black district, the new map significantly alters the electoral landscape for the upcoming cycles.

This legislative action follows the repeal of a 56-year ban on mid-decade redistricting [2]. For over five decades, the state had prohibited redrawing maps outside of the standard census cycle, a restriction that has now been lifted to allow for these changes.

Lawmakers moved to redraw the districts after a Supreme Court ruling weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act [2]. This judicial shift provided the legal opening for Republicans to target Democratic-held districts through a process of mid-decade reconfiguration.

Tennessee currently has nine seats in the U.S. House delegation [1]. Under the previous map, only one of these districts was designated as majority-Black [1]. The new map removes that designation, effectively redistributing those voters across different districts.

Gov. Bill Lee signed off on the map alongside the Republican-controlled legislature in Nashville. The move solidifies GOP control over the state's representation in Washington, as the new boundaries are designed to favor Republican candidates in the remaining districts.

“Tennessee Republican lawmakers and Gov. Bill Lee approved a new congressional map that eliminates the state's only majority-Black House district.”

The elimination of Tennessee's sole majority-Black district reflects a broader national trend where states are utilizing weakened federal voting protections to maximize partisan advantage. By repealing the mid-decade redistricting ban, Tennessee has established a precedent that allows for the frequent reconfiguration of electoral boundaries to respond to judicial shifts, potentially making it more difficult for minority populations to maintain cohesive voting blocs.