Tennessee Faces First Court Challenge Over Alleged Racial Gerrymandering: Congressional Redistricting Map Draws Scrutiny
Tennessee is currently facing its first court challenge over a congressional redistricting map that has been criticized for allegedly using racial gerrymandering as a means to help Republicans gain an advantage in elections. The lawsuit was filed on Wednesday in federal court in Nashville and argues that the redistricting plan unconstitutionally diluted the power of Black voters and other communities of color.
According to the plaintiffs, which include organizations like the Tennessee State Conference of the NAACP and the League of Women Voters of Tennessee, as well as individuals like former state Sen. Brenda Gilmore, the redrawing of U.S. House maps and state Senate districts violates the 14th and 15th amendments by engaging in racial gerrymandering. They claim that by dividing Democratic-leaning Nashville into three Republican-majority districts that stretch into rural counties, the redistricting plan undermined the voices and votes of minority voters.
The contentious redistricting plan drew significant backlash and threats of legal action from Democrats after it was introduced by Republicans early last year. One of the consequences of the new lines was the decision of former Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper of Nashville to not seek reelection, as he believed he couldn’t win any of the three new seats designed to split the city. The results of the subsequent elections confirmed the Republican advantage, as three Republican candidates secured victories by significant margins.
The Tennessee Legislature split Nashville into three districts and splintered my neighborhoods, said Brenda Gilmore, a former Democratic state senator who is Black. And most harmful of all, the redistricting plan attacked African American voters, both diluting our voices, our vote and people who look like me, and other people of color, from electing candidates of our choice.
In addition to the congressional map, the lawsuit also challenges state Senate District 31 in majority-Black Shelby County, which is represented by Republican Sen. Brent Taylor.
The timing of the lawsuit in Tennessee coincides with the U.S. Supreme Court taking up a similar redistricting challenge in South Carolina. In both cases, claims are being made under the 14th and 15th amendments, suggesting intentional redrawings that diminish the voting power of minority communities.
Attorneys involved in the Tennessee lawsuit have cited the South Carolina case as relevant and similar to theirs. They also noted that waiting to file the lawsuit until after the 2022 elections allowed them to assess the impact of the redistricting plan, particularly on voters of color.
Republicans in Tennessee have defended the redistricting plan, arguing that population shifts and growth in and around Nashville justified dividing the city. They claim to have met the legal requirements necessary to withstand any legal challenges. However, the lawsuit accuses Republican lawmakers of passing the maps through an opaque and rushed process designed to prevent public scrutiny and meaningful debate.
While this lawsuit focuses on constitutional rights, another legal challenge against Tennessee’s state legislative maps is ongoing based on state constitutional grounds. A ruling in that case is expected soon.
Before the 2022 redistricting process, Nashville was united in one congressional seat, extending into two additional counties and having a Black population of around 24%. This made it unlikely for Nashville to have enough minority voters to make up a district’s majority, a requirement for certain protections under the Voting Rights Act. However, the current lawsuit focuses on other constitutional rights instead.
