A newly redrawn congressional map in Tennessee, which significantly alters district boundaries in Memphis, is set to make its electoral debut in Thursday’s primary elections. The changes come after the Republican-controlled state legislature redrew the map following a U.S. Supreme Court decision that lessened federal protections under the Voting Rights Act, impacting majority-Black districts.
The revised map notably fragments Memphis, dividing the city among three districts that extend into predominantly rural areas. This restructuring effectively dismantles the city’s long-standing majority-Black congressional district, raising concerns among many local voters about diminished representation. Previously, Memphis formed the core of its own distinct congressional district.
The reshaped 9th Congressional District, now extending roughly 200 miles east of Memphis before stretching north toward the Nashville region, has shifted from a Democratic-leaning seat to one favoring Republicans. This change prompted Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen, who represented the district for years, to announce he would not seek reelection. Two Democrats, state Rep. Justin Pearson and state Sen. London Lamar, are contesting the primary to replace him. Pearson drew national attention last year when he was expelled from the state House after protesting for gun control following a school shooting but was later reelected by Memphis voters.
On the Republican side, state Sen. Brent Taylor, endorsed by former President Donald Trump, is among four candidates competing in the 9th District primary. Trump has praised the redistricting effort as part of a broader strategy to help Republicans retain their narrow majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Residents of Memphis have expressed frustration with the redistricting. Retired postal worker Lonzo Taylor described the change as a dilution of Black voters’ influence. “We only had one district in the whole state of Tennessee, and you don’t even want that to be fair? It’s just terrible,” he said, also criticizing Governor Bill Lee for calling the special legislative session that enacted the new map.
Other voters voiced concerns about confusion and potential voter suppression. Early Democratic primary voter Milla Meiman said she was unaware of the changes until she received a notification, calling the alteration “a drastic change” that could hinder voter participation. Educator Terrice Thomas, now shifted from the 9th to the 8th District, worries about whether Memphis residents will have equitable representation in the new configuration, which includes more rural constituents.
The redistricting also reshaped the 5th Congressional District, currently held by Republican Rep. Andy Ogles, a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus. The district now stretches from Nashville to the northwest corner of the state and down the Mississippi River to Memphis, touching four neighboring states. Ogles, who is running for reelection, faces a primary challenge from Charlie Hatcher, a former state agriculture commissioner. Ogles has been under scrutiny in an FBI investigation related to campaign finance but was recently cleared when the Justice Department agreed to return his seized cellphone.
On the Democratic side, the 5th District primary includes Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder, who remains a candidate despite being drawn out of the district by the new boundaries.
Republicans currently hold eight of Tennessee’s nine congressional seats, and the upcoming primaries will set the stage for the party’s bid to maintain control amid these significant boundary shifts.