Source: Politics<\/p>\n
Tennessee Republicans on Wednesday unveiled a proposed congressional map that slices into the state\u2019s majority-Black district and will likely secure them an all-GOP federal delegation.<\/p>\n
The redraw comes as Republican-led Southern states scramble to enact new maps in the wake of last week\u2019s Supreme Court ruling<\/a> that weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and opened the door to states blowing up blue districts drawn to protect the voting power of racial minorities.<\/p>\n Tennessee\u2019s new map<\/a> aims to draw the state\u2019s lone Democratic congressional representative \u2014 Rep. Steve Cohen \u2014 out of his Memphis-area seat by splitting up majority-Black Shelby County. It also divides Maury County, likely delivering a more favorable district to Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), who is onthe Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee\u2019s target list<\/a>.<\/p>\n The plan is supported by Republican leadership in both chambers of the Tennessee General Assembly and is expected to pass Thursday.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Supreme Court has opined that redistricting, like the judicial system, should be color-blind,\u201d said Tenesseee House Speaker Cameron Sexton in a social media post<\/a>. \u201cThe decision indicated states can redistrict based off partisan politics. Today, Tennessee joins other red and blue states in redrawing their congressional maps.\u201d<\/p>\n Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, called the state assembly into a special session<\/a> on Friday following the Supreme Court ruling. The assembly adopted a set of rules limiting public comment<\/a> in an attempt to expedite the new map.<\/p>\n \u201cHouse Republicans remain well-positioned to re-elect our incumbents, compete aggressively across the map, and grow the majority in November,\u201d National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Reilly Richardson said in a statement.<\/p>\n Andrew Howard contributed reporting.<\/p>\n