Source: Politics<\/p>\n
Tennessee\u2019s Republican-controlled legislature approved a new congressional map Thursday that dismantles 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 The 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 on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee\u2019s target list<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Supreme Court has opined that redistricting, like the judicial system, should be color-blind,\u201d said Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton in a social media post<\/a>. \u201cThe decision indicated states can redistrict based off partisan politics.\u201d<\/p>\n Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, is expected to sign the map into law imminently. He called the legislature into a special session last week to pass the map.<\/p>\n \u201cWe owe it to Tennesseans to ensure our congressional districts accurately reflect the will of Tennessee voters,\u201d Lee said in a statement Friday<\/a>. \u201cAfter consultation with the Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House, Attorney General, and Secretary of State, I believe the General Assembly has a responsibility to review the map and ensure it remains fair, legal, and defensible.\u201d<\/p>\n Tennessee is the first state to finalize a new congressional map after last week\u2019s Supreme Court decision. Louisiana\u2019s GOP-controlled legislature is expected to unveil a new map<\/a> as soon as this week, and Republicans in South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi and Alabama<\/a> are pushing to do the same.<\/p>\n Andrew Howard contributed to this report.<\/p>\n