Tennessee committee advances measure to allow mid‑decade congressional redistricting amid warnings it would dilute Memphis’ Black vote

The House special‑session committee on congressional redistricting advanced legislation that removes the statutory restriction on mid‑decade congressional map changes, setting the stage for a potential overhaul of Tennessee’s congressional lines that civil‑rights witnesses said would fragment Memphis and dilute Black voting strength.

Sponsor William Lambert, identified in committee as the lead for House Bill 7,002, told members the measure "deletes the final sentence" of TCA 2‑16‑102 and "literally just deletes 1 sentence," arguing the bill only permits the legislature "to enter into this conversation" about redistricting rather than prescribing map details. Lambert said the maps under consideration were drawn on population and politics and that "no racial data was used." (William Lambert)

Why it matters: Witnesses and multiple committee members said the procedural change is consequential because accompanying map bills released the same day divide Shelby County and the 9th Congressional District — long described by civil‑rights leaders as an organically majority‑Black jurisdiction — into three districts, which they said would reduce the ability of Black voters in Memphis to elect representatives of their choice.

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, who identified himself as the congressman for District 9, told the panel the proposed configuration would leave the county with three districts in which the Black share was roughly 29–30 percent in each, saying the drafter "divided the Black population in Shelby County exactly just about the same, cutting it up, dicing it up, slicing it up so that they wouldn't have an impact on any district." Cohen said the 2022 map had "withstood legal scrutiny" and warned residents would be less able to see or access their member of Congress if districts were stretched into outlying counties (Steve Cohen).

Dr. Sekou Franklin, political‑action chair for the Tennessee NAACP, testified the plan "will be the most devastating attack on the voting rights" of the Black community in Shelby County and repeatedly warned of constitutional and operational risks. Franklin cited a memorandum by Mark Goins, the state elections coordinator, that he said listed nine operational impacts — including voter assignment, election programming and candidate‑qualification timelines — and invoked the federal Purcell principle that courts use to resist major election changes close to elections. "This plan," Franklin said, "is so far monumentally difficult to implement that it ... would cause major problems." (Dr. Sekou Franklin)

Walter Bailey, a Memphis civil‑rights attorney, told the committee the map "smacks of subliminal racism" and argued the proposal "disregards the interests" of a majority‑Black electorate that he said historically comprised roughly 60 percent of the 9th District. Bailey said courts should review the map if the legislature enacts it.

Committee members pressed witnesses and the sponsor on two separate questions: whether race or partisanship guided the map drawing, and whether local election offices — many of which have limited staff — have time and funding to reprogram machines and notify voters if lines change. Lambert repeatedly said the map was based on the 2020 census population totals and partisan considerations and pointed to Secretary of State training and a budget amendment intended to reimburse local costs.

On administration and timing, witnesses warned of specific costs and confusion. Franklin said the Goins memo "outlined ... the operational impact on counties, including voter assignment, election programming, publication requirements and candidate qualifying timelines," and added that military and absentee ballots could be affected. Committee members repeatedly asked for detail on training, precise funding amounts and who would bear short‑term costs.

Formal outcomes: After hearing testimony, the committee voted to send House Bill 7,002 to the calendar and rules committee (clerk announced 15 ayes, 6 nos). A separate map bill, House Bill 7,003, was amended and later sent to the Finance, Ways and Means Committee (16 ayes, 6 nos). Representatives also advanced related measures and discussed a constitutional amendment proposal to prohibit mid‑decade congressional redistricting going forward.

What comes next: HB7002 and map bills will move to their next committees where sponsors and challengers can pursue amendments or legal review. Civil‑rights witnesses signaled they would consider litigation if enacted maps materially dilute minority voting strength; sponsors said the process used population totals and did not use racial data.

The hearing included three minutes of initial testimony from each invited witness and extended questioning by members; the committee repeatedly cautioned gallery decorum, warning that press and witnesses would be removed if the room was cleared.