Republican lawmakers in Tennessee passed a new congressional map on Thursday, May 7, 2026 [2], that splits the state's lone majority-Black district.
The redistricting effort targets a district centered on Memphis, which has historically provided a reliable seat for Democratic representation. By carving up this specific area, the Republican-led Legislature aims to shift the electoral balance of the state's congressional delegation.
Governor Bill Lee signed the map after it passed the legislature [1]. The move is designed to give Republicans a chance to win all nine [1] of the state's congressional seats in the November 2026 midterm elections [1].
Tennessee has nine total congressional seats [1]. The new boundaries reshape the Memphis-based district to the advantage of the GOP, which is part of a broader strategy to maintain a House majority in the U.S.
The decision to erase the majority-Black district comes as a critical maneuver ahead of the upcoming midterms. This redistricting process specifically alters the boundaries of the only district in the state where Black voters hold a majority.
“Republican lawmakers in Tennessee passed a new congressional map on Thursday, May 7, 2026.”
The elimination of the state's only majority-Black district represents a strategic attempt to maximize GOP gains in the 2026 midterms. By dispersing a concentrated bloc of minority voters across multiple districts, the map reduces the likelihood of a Democratic victory in Memphis, potentially altering the ideological composition of Tennessee's representation in the U.S. House.
