Tennessee lawmakers debut redistricting proposal

Tennessee Republicans on Wednesday debuted their proposed slate of congressional district maps to eliminate the Democratic-leaning district centered on Memphis.

The push to redraw the maps comes in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling that struck down race-based congressional districts and narrowed its interpretation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

"The Supreme Court has opined that redistricting, like the judicial system, should be color-blind," posted Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton. "The decision indicated states can redistrict based off partisan politics. Today, Tennessee joins other red and blue states in redrawing their congressional maps."

The Republican-backed map would redraw the lines to create a clean slate of GOP-leaning maps in the state. Other states across the South have moved to redraw their maps as well, with Texas and Florida already doing so, and Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi starting the process.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.