Full Breakdown
Tennessee Redistricting Splits Memphis, Redefining the State’s Sole Majority-Black Congressional District
8/7/2026, 8:41:10 AM
Core Event: New Map Redraws the 9th District Ahead of Thursday Primary
The Republican-controlled Tennessee Legislature approved a new congressional map in May after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling narrowed Voting Rights Act protections. The map cracks the longtime Memphis-based 9th District into three districts that extend far beyond the city, and Thursday’s primary will elect the party nominees who will contest the reconfigured seats in November.
Background & Context
The Court’s decision in a Louisiana case weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, prompting several states to revisit their district lines. Tennessee’s 9th District had been insulated from gerrymandering because its majority-Black population satisfied VRA requirements. A 2022 redistricting already split Nashville; the 2024 overhaul now fragments Memphis, the state’s most populous city and a historic center of African-American political power.
Data & Statistics
- The new 9th District stretches roughly 200 miles (320 km) east from Memphis toward the Nashville area, covering 15 counties.
- Cook Political Report analysis shows the re-drawn district is 58 % white and 32 % Black, a reversal from the former 60 % Black, 23 % white composition reported by Census Reporter.
- Memphis remains about two-thirds Black according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
- As of June 1, Tennessee had about 4.7 million registered voters.
Key Figures & Groups
- Quinn Carger – Memphis voter critical of the map.
- Rev. Earle Fisher – Senior pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church and founder of UpTheVote901.
- Steve Cohen – Outgoing Democratic U.S. Representative who announced retirement.
- Justin Pearson – Democratic state Representative and primary candidate.
- London Lamar – Democratic state Senator and primary contender.
- Brent Taylor – Republican primary candidate and vocal critic of the new map.
- John Stevens – Legislator who sponsored the map, saying it “maximizes partisan advantage.”
- Cameron Sexton – Republican House Speaker who posted that the Supreme Court decision permits partisan redrawing.
- Milla Meiman – 23-year-old voter who described the change as “drastic” and a “voter suppression tactic.”
Official Statements & Responses
- John Stevens said the districts “maximize partisan advantage.”
- Cameron Sexton posted that the Supreme Court decision allows states to redraw maps based on partisan considerations.
- Steve Cohen told WREG the map was “destroyed by Trump” and that “Americans have lost their voice.”
- Republican leaders argue the new boundaries “better reflect population changes” and comply with recent legal developments.
Criticism & Opposition
- Quinn Carger: “From a strategic standpoint, it is a great power play by the Republicans here in this state to ensure that Black voices are minimized.”
- Rev. Earle Fisher warned the redistricting “diminishes Black political power.”
- Milla Meiman called the change “drastic” and labeled it “a voter suppression tactic.”
Why It Matters / Impact
Splitting Memphis threatens to dilute Black voting strength, potentially turning the 9th District from a Democratic stronghold into a Republican-leaning seat. Local leaders fear federal resources could shift toward suburban and rural areas, jeopardizing projects and services that have historically benefited Memphis neighborhoods.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
No definitive post-redistricting election data are yet available; Thursday’s primary will be the first test of how the new boundaries affect electoral outcomes.
What’s Next
Thursday’s primary will select the Democratic and Republican nominees for the reconfigured 9th District. The winners will face each other in the November general election, determining whether the state’s sole majority-Black congressional seat can be retained under the new map.
