Story perspectives

Court Ruling Enables Tennessee Plan Erasing Black District

5/7/2026

Summary

Story summary

Lawmakers released a redistricting plan that would erase Tennessee’s Black-majority district by merging Shelby and Williamson counties into a 200-mile district.
The plan follows a Supreme Court ruling this month that struck down key Voting Rights Act enforcement provisions, weakening oversight of redistricting.
Protesters in Nashville and Rep. Steve Cohen and Democratic Caucus Chair John Ray Clemmons called the plan a corrupt power grab that furthers President Donald Trump’s agenda.

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Story summary

Lawmakers released a redistricting plan that would erase Tennessee’s Black-majority district by merging Shelby and Williamson counties into a 200-mile district.
The plan follows a Supreme Court ruling this month that struck down key Voting Rights Act enforcement provisions, weakening oversight of redistricting.
Protesters in Nashville and Rep. Steve Cohen and Democratic Caucus Chair John Ray Clemmons called the plan a corrupt power grab that furthers President Donald Trump’s agenda.