Proposal to redraw congressional districts in Tennessee passes state House and Senate

Added: 2026-05-09

[00:00:00]Why did you split the black vote up almost exactly in the three districts?

[00:00:04]Because you wanted to minimize it and kill it.

[00:00:08]>> We are following major developments out of Nashville tonight that could reshape political representation here in Memphis and across Shelby County. A proposal to redraw Tennessee's congressional map is now moving forward after clearing key House and Senate committees. The plan would split Shelby County into three congressional districts, dramatically changing the current makeup of District 9. The debate sparked emotional testimony, heated exchanges between lawmakers, and large protests at the state capital as opponents and supporters faced off over the future of Memphis's representation. ABC24's Lauren Turman is in Nashville tonight with the latest developments and what happens next.

[00:00:54]Today, many of the details behind the plan to redraw Tennessee's congressional map were revealed as bill sponsors were questioned about how this would actually impact the state's communities.

[00:01:09]>> Committees in both the House and Senate passed multiple bills today, but not without some push back inside hearing rooms.

[00:01:16]>> So, voters who were previously in a single majority black district would now be split into several districts.

[00:01:21]Correct.

[00:01:22]I I don't know.

[00:01:24]>> So, how are you proposing a map and you don't know anything about it?

[00:01:28]>> I I know how the map is divided, but I don't know the racial makeup of the map.

[00:01:32]>> And outside.

[00:01:36]>> In the Senate Judiciary Committee, protesters disrupted the meeting as lawmakers debated.

[00:01:41]>> Tennessee has come out and set the tone for what it means to protect southern votes right now. And we know that no matter what the results are in this fight, we hope that people in other states, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, all these states see us and are ready to go ahead and fight back with us.

[00:02:02]>> Under this map approved by President Donald Trump, Shelby County will be divided into three districts, 5, 8, and 9. District 9 would completely reshape and be moved to much of Middle Tennessee as far as Bedford and more counties.

[00:02:16]them pushing this agenda that Shelby County can't elect its own representative is harmful. They took away its school board. What's next? It's county commission. It's city council.

[00:02:25]>> One measure would cover any cost incurred from redistricting, including about $3.15 million set aside to reimburse counties, plus an estimated $500,000 in additional local costs due to overtime. And testimony came from former Georgia Representative Stacy Abrams, Congressman Steve Cohen, and longtime civil rights attorney Walter Bailey.

[00:02:47]>> Why did you split the black vote up almost exactly in the three districts?

[00:02:51]Because you wanted to minimize it and kill it. Those are impossible districts to be able to campaign and meet with people and have town halls and have people come. It defeats the whole idea of democracy. The Senate sponsor of the bill, Senator John Stevens, defended the plan, saying Tennessee is a conservative state and its representation in Washington should reflect that. The people who were born in ' 64 or 65 have lived to see the diminishing of so many rights from Row versus Wade to these civil rights acts, right? And so people have saw a complete reversal before they were even retirement age if they were born during that time.

[00:03:26]>> And of course, all of this leads up to a final vote expected tomorrow. The House reconvenes for a floor session starting at 9:00 a.m. and the Senate reconvenes at 10:00.