The final vote from the House was 64 to 24.
The Tennessee House has approved a new redistricting proposal after the state lawmakers had been debating for days during a special session.
The proposal will split up the Democrat-controlled district of Memphis into different congressional districts, likely eliminating the one Democrat seat in Congress from the state. The final vote from the House was 64 to 24 with GOP Reps. John Gillespie and Mark White, both of Memphis, voting with Democrats, per WJHL 11.
Memphis will be split into three new districts according to the map if it is signed into law. Democrats in the state House called the move a “grave, grave rollback of rights” for black residents of Tennessee as well as for those in Memphis. The Democrats also called the map redraw “racist,” as the district in Memphis had been majority black. After the Supreme Court ruled that race should not play a part in deciding congressional lines, Tennessee as well as Alabama moved to redraw their congressional districts.
The state Senate needs to pass the measure and it needs to be signed into law by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.
“We owe it to Tennesseans to ensure our congressional districts accurately reflect the will of Tennessee voters,” said Tennessee Governor Bill Lee on Friday in a statement on May 2. “After 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.”
The move comes as there has been a redistricting battle between the GOP and Democrats for which party will control more seats in Congress ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Tennessee and Alabama are two of the latest states to start up their efforts to redraw their maps.
Republicans have made similar moves in Texas, Florida, North Carolina, and others. Democrats have likewise made steps to redraw the congressional maps in California, Colorado, Virginia, and others.