Tennessee Legislature Redraws Memphis-Based Congressional District, Prompting Local Concern
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The Republican-controlled Tennessee Legislature split the state's majority-Black 9th Congressional District, extending it far beyond Memphis, leading to voter frustration and debate over representation ahead of the midterm primaries.
The Tennessee Legislature approved a new congressional map in May that divided the 9th District, which had previously encompassed Memphis and surrounding areas, into a larger, predominantly white district stretching toward Nashville. The change follows a recent Supreme Court ruling that weakened protections for majority-Black districts under the Voting Rights Act.
Incumbent Representative Steve Cohen, who has served the district since 2007, announced he will not seek re-election, citing the new district’s size and his health concerns. Local activists and community leaders expressed disappointment, saying the redrawing dilutes the voting power of Memphis’s majority-Black population.
"What frustrates the average voter about the redistricting is not simply that you had your district cracked, or that you had your vote power diluted," said Rev. Earle Fisher, senior pastor at Memphis’ Abyssinian Baptist Church.
"It’s that you know that in the process of doing this, the will of the majority of the people in your area is not going to be honored," Fisher added.
Democratic candidates, including state Rep. Justin Pearson, are campaigning to retain the seat, while some voters support mayor Chaz Molder’s bid for the neighboring 5th District, hoping to keep a Democratic presence in Congress. Concerns were also raised about the potential shift of federal resources toward the more rural portions of the new district.
Republican officials defended the map, arguing it better reflects Tennessee’s overall population and counters previous Democratic-drawn districts. House Speaker Cameron Sexton noted that the Supreme Court decision permits states to redraw maps for partisan considerations.