Tennessee Gov. Lee Calls Special Session on Redistricting Map to Flip Democratic District

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee called a special legislative session for Tuesday to consider a congressional redistricting map that could turn the state's lone Democratic district Republican before the 2026 midterms.

Lee, who faces term limits and leaves office this year, acted after speaking with President Donald Trump last week. The call came right after the Supreme Court ruled in Louisiana v. Callais that race cannot dictate legislative district maps.

"We owe it to Tennesseans to ensure our congressional districts accurately reflect the will of Tennessee voters," Lee said in a statement announcing the session. He stressed the need to meet election qualifying deadlines and enact a new map quickly.

"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."

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., a top candidate to replace Lee, presented the map Wednesday, hours after the Supreme Court decision. "I urge our state legislature to reconvene to redistrict another Republican seat in Memphis," she posted on X, alongside an image of the map that would give Republicans a 9-0 edge in Tennessee's House delegation. "It's essential to cement @realDonaldTrump’s agenda and the Golden Age of America. I've vowed to keep Tennessee a red state, and as Governor, I'll do everything I can to make this map a reality."

Lee consulted Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, House Speaker Cameron Sexton, Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti and Secretary of State Tre Hargett. He also heard from Blackburn and Trump after the ruling.

Trump posted on Truth Social Thursday: "I had a very good conversation with Governor Bill Lee, of Tennessee, this morning, wherein he stated that he would work hard to correct the unconstitutional flaw in the Congressional Maps of the Great State of Tennessee. Likewise, all of the other Political Representatives of Tennessee have promised to do so. This should give us one extra seat, and help Save our Country from the Radical Left Democrats, and their Country destroying Policies of High Tax, Open Borders, Transgender Mutilization, Defunding the Police, ICE, and Border Patrol, No Voter ID, Soft on Crime, and so much more."

The Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana map with a second majority-Black district, narrowing race's role in redistricting under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Republican-led Southern states including Alabama now eye their maps.

Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., holds the Memphis seat at risk. He said the map could end his time in Congress by blending the city's Black voters with rural areas.

"This transparent effort to create a seat for a member of Congress who will rubber stamp Trump’s increasingly bizarre and dangerous agenda will also dilute the Black vote in Tennessee to the point of irrelevance," Cohen said. "I have been consulting with voting rights lawyers and other experts to fight this move with every option available, political and legal. The filing deadline for candidates for the 120th Congress has passed. Were the General Assembly to change the district maps, candidates already seeking office in one district could find themselves in the absurd situation of running in another – a wholesale injustice to voters and a mockery of democracy."

"Republican state lawmakers clearly have the votes to make this Machiavellian move," he added. "I hope fairness is part of their consideration and that they abandon it."

Blackburn responded Monday on X: "Since the ruling on Wednesday, liberals have bemoaned that redrawing the lines would create a 'lack of representation.' It’s funny, you've never heard a liberal bemoan the lack of conservative representation in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Hawaii, or Delaware."

Cohen told WMC Action News 5 in Memphis on Sunday the map might be delayed until 2028. "I think maybe it can be put off until 2028, but after 2028, it’s toast."

He likened it to Nashville's post-2020 census split into three districts, leaving the city without a local representative.

Republican lawmakers control the General Assembly and will dominate Tuesday's session.

"Tennesseans have made it clear they want strong borders, a strong economy, and common-sense leadership – not the failed policies coming from Washington Democrats," state Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Williamson County, told WMC.