TN Gov. Signs Map Splitting Nashville

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R), has Approved a Proposal to Split, fast-growing Nashville into Multiple Congressional Seats, a move Democrats have warned will unfairly affect Black Voters. The Republican, on Sunday, also signed off on Legislation, Redrawing Election Boundaries for the State's Senate and House seat.

Currently, Tennessee’s U.S. House Delegation consists of Seven Republicans and Two Democrats, whose Districts center on Nashville and Memphis. Nashville's Seat has largely remained intact for 200 years. The District extends into Two additional Counties and has about a 24% Black Population.

Pleas to keep Nashville whole went largely Ignored in the Republican-controlled General Assembly, as it moved through it’s once-a-decade task of carving New Legislative and Congressional Districts.

Republicans have Not directly addressed the effect their Plan would have on Black Voters in Nashville. Instead, they have largely touted that their Plan complies with the Law, and will only boost Nashville’s Influence inside Congress, because it’ll have Three House Members instead of One. Under the newly drawn Maps, Nashville will be split into Three Seats, and this will likely make any Democrat a significant Underdog against a Republican.

That fate was only highlighted when Nashville's longtime U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (D-5th District), already said he would Not run for Reelection just a day after the GOP-controlled Statehouse Approved the newly drawn Congressional Districts. Cooper said there was “no way” for him to retain his Seat with the District the Republicans drew.

Tennessee's Democratic Party has promised to Sue over the Map. The U.S. Supreme Court has taken a hands-off approach on Partisan Redistricting Maps, but will take Racial Gerrymandering, leaving Partisan Redistricting to the State's Highest Court.

Nationally, Republicans need a Net gain of Five Seats to Flip U.S. House Control.

While both Parties have Gerrymandered, these days Republicans have more Opportunities. The GOP controls the Line-Drawing Process in States representing 187 House Seats compared with 75 for Democrats.

The rest of the States use either Independent Commissions, have Split Government Control, or only have One Congressional Seat.










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