General Assembly strengthens Tennessee voices in D.C.

The House and Senate chambers on May 7 concluded a successful special session of the 114th General Assembly, redrawing Tennessee’s congressional district maps to safeguard all Tennesseans’ voices in government.

House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, and Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, led the effort to redraw Tennessee’s congressional districts. The legislation modernizes the state’s redistricting process by removing racial data entirely from mapmaking considerations, focusing instead on traditional, neutral redistricting principles and the state’s political geography.

“This week, Tennessee joined other red and blue states in redrawing their congressional maps,” said Speaker Sexton. “We have accomplished the Governor’s call for this special session. I am proud of the dedication shown by House and Senate members in coming together to pass meaningful, effective legislation for the benefit of all Tennesseans.”

Tennessee joins at least eight states, including California, Texas and Florida, that have decided to implement new mid-decade congressional maps. Based on population data from the 2020 United States Census, the Volunteer State has nine congressional seats, currently held by eight Republicans and one Democrat.

Lawmakers worked throughout the week to review the state’s existing map, ensuring Tennessee’s representation in Washington reflects its conservative values and complies with current law. It was the 68th time in Tennessee’s 230 years of statehood that the General Assembly convened in an extraordinary session.

“The voices of all Tennesseans, whether they live in urban, suburban or rural areas, are vital to the decisions made in Nashville or in D.C.,” said House Majority Leader William Lamberth,R-Portland. “Our goal has always been to serve every Tennessean well, protect the integrity of our elections and advance the priorities that reflect the conservative values of our state. These maps are essential to influencing the direction of our nation.”

Legislation passed today is a direct response to a renewed national conversation on redistricting. The Alexander v. South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP and Louisiana v. Callais decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court have clarified the legal landscape for redistricting.

“Republicans in the General Assembly today took bold action to ensure all Tennesseans have fair, responsive representation in Washington,” House Deputy Speaker Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville, said. “This new map will help deliver a decisive conservative majority in the U.S. Congress, keeping our nation on a path toward prosperity and common-sense governance. The future of our country is at stake, and the Volunteer State is once again leading the fight to secure the freedoms and America-first policies that make us strong.”

Gov. Bill Lee announced the session on May 1 following nationwide action surrounding congressional representation, and urging by President Donald J. Trump, who said the Tennessee General Assembly’s actions will help “save our country” from destructive policies.

Below is the new congressional map approved by lawmakers this week: