In an assertive move during this election year, Republicans across several Southern states are forging ahead with plans to reshape majority-Black congressional districts, unfazed by protests and criticism. This push comes in the wake of a pivotal U.S. Supreme Court ruling, which has rendered these districts particularly susceptible to changes.
In Tennessee, the atmosphere was heated as protesters repeatedly interrupted legislative hearings focused on the redistricting agenda. Nevertheless, Republicans remained steadfast, advancing the proposals toward a crucial vote anticipated on Thursday.
Similarly, in Alabama, despite impassioned arguments from Black Democratic lawmakers, Republicans in the state House moved forward with a strategy to potentially alter the state’s congressional primaries, contingent on court approval to adjust their U.S. House districts. Meanwhile, in South Carolina, the Democratic opposition criticized their Republican counterparts for seemingly aligning with former President Donald Trump’s directives as they initiated steps to redraw a district traditionally represented by a Black Democratic lawmaker.
The implications of these redistricting efforts are profound, particularly for minority voters who may find themselves losing representation aligned with their preferences. Additionally, Republican lawmakers who hesitate to align with Trump face political risks. This was evident in Tuesday’s Republican primary elections in Indiana, where Trump-backed challengers succeeded in unseating at least five of the seven state legislators who had previously resisted a congressional redistricting effort.
The recent Supreme Court decision targeting Louisiana’s approach to forming a second Black-majority House district has significantly shifted the interpretation of the Voting Rights Act. It has provided Republicans in Louisiana and other states with a foundation to potentially dismantle majority-Black districts that typically support Democratic candidates.
The ruling intensified an already fierce national redistricting battle ahead of a November midterm election that will determine control of the closely divided House.
Since Trump prodded Texas to redraw its U.S. House districts last year, eight states have adopted new congressional districts. From that, Republicans think they could gain as many as 13 seats while Democrats think they could gain up to 10. But some of the new districts could be competitive in November, meaning the parties may not get all they sought.
Tennessee plan splits up Memphis district
Republicans on Wednesday proposed a new U.S. House map that would split Memphis’ home of Shelby County into three districts, instead of the current two. The map would break up Tennessee’s lone Democratic-held district, centered on the majority-Black city, creating a ripple effect of alterations to districts throughout the western and central parts of the state.
“Tennessee is a conservative state, and our congressional delegation should reflect that. This bill ensures it does,” Republican state Sen. John Stevens said.
Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton said the proposed districts were drawn based on population and politics, not racial data.
To adopt new House districts, Tennessee lawmakers also are seeking to repeal a state law prohibiting mid-decade redistricting.
Democrats and civil rights activists denounced the efforts during Wednesday’s committee hearings.
The proposal “is Black vote dilution at an industrial scale,” said Sekou Franklin, a political science professor at Middle Tennessee State University who is part of the Tennessee branch of the NAACP.
Protesters interrupted a Senate committee meeting, loudly chanting “Hands off our vote!” After senators suspended the hearing, state troopers cleared people from the room. Senators resumed their work elsewhere, advancing the legislation.
Later Wednesday, protesters in the hallway beat on the walls and doors of a committee room where senators were meeting. A House committee also paused its work as state troopers escorted chanting protesters from the room.
The candidate qualifying period in Tennessee ended in March, but legislation would reopen it to allow new candidates to join the races and existing candidates to switch districts. The primary election is Aug. 6.
Democrats noted that the state Supreme Court in April 2022 rejected a challenge to the current congressional map, finding it was too close to the election to make changes. This year, there’s even less time before the primary elections, raising the potential of confusion for both candidates and voters, Democrats said.
Alabama House backs a new primary
The Republican-led Alabama House on Wednesday passed legislation authorizing special congressional primaries as Republicans eye the possibility of getting a different congressional map in place for the November elections. The bill now moves to the state Senate.
Alabama is seeking to lift a federal court order that created a second congressional district with a near-majority of Black voters. That map led to the 2024 election of Rep. Shomari Figures, a Black Democrat. Republicans want instead to use a 2023 map drawn by state lawmakers that would give the GOP an opportunity to reclaim Figures’ south Alabama district.
The legislation won House approval on a party-line vote after four hours of fiery debate during which Black legislators said the moment calls back to the state’s shameful Jim Crow-era history.
“It’s a tragic step backward for Black Alabama voters. But we’ve been here before, and we will not give up this fight,” Democratic state Rep. Adline Clarke said.
Democratic state Rep. Juandalynn Givan likened the legislation to poll taxes and counting jelly beans in a jar — a virtually impossible task that was used to suppress Black voters during the Jim Crow era.
“It is a calculated political maneuver born out of fear, a fear that is of Black people and most importantly Black political power,” Givan said.
Tensions rose later Wednesday as dozens of protesters temporarily blocked a hallway outside the Senate, singing “We Shall Overcome” and shouting “we’re not going back” as security officers tried to get them to leave.
Alabama’s legislation hinges on the U.S. Supreme Court or a district court agreeing to lift the injunction.
“We’re going to be ready if the court hands down a favorable ruling,” said Republican state Rep. Chris Pringle, who sponsored the bill.
Alabama’s primaries are May 19. If a court grants the state’s request, the legislation would ignore the results for congressional seats and direct the governor to schedule a new primary under the revised districts.
South Carolina moves toward redistricting
The South Carolina House on Wednesday approved a resolution giving lawmakers permission to return later, after their regular work ends, to redraw congressional districts that could eliminate the state’s only Democratic-held district. The proposal now goes to the Senate, where it would need a two-thirds vote.
Republican House leaders said after the vote that they plan to introduce a new map Thursday and hold committee meetings on Friday. But during debate Wednesday, Republicans fended off specific questions from Democrats, including why they were willing to stop the June 9 U.S. House primary elections well after candidates filed and how much a rescheduled primary could cost.
Democratic Rep. Justin Bamberg said he felt sorry for Republicans who he said were giving up their principles to follow the whims of Trump.
“The president of the United States is a very powerful man. Wields a heavy, heavy thumb — Truth Social, X, Meta, Instagram. To be honest I don’t envy our Republican colleagues,” Bamberg said.
Democratic Rep. Leon Stavrinakis said democracy will die if lawmakers redraw voting districts for political reasons every time power changes or to protect someone in office.
___
