Republican legislative leaders in Tennessee released a congressional map proposal Wednesday that would eliminate the state's only Democratic-controlled district, splitting the majority-Black Memphis area into multiple Republican-leaning districts ahead of primary elections scheduled for August.

The new map comes one week after the U.S. Supreme Court issued a major ruling limiting the use of race in redistricting. State House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson filed the legislation Wednesday and said they expected floor votes on Thursday, with Republicans holding sizable majorities in both chambers. Tennessee's primaries are scheduled for Aug. 6.

What the Left Is Saying

Democratic lawmakers and voting rights advocates have criticized the proposal as an effort to dilute minority voting power. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., who currently represents the district that would be carved up under the new map, has not issued a public statement on the proposal as of Wednesday evening.

The Brennan Center for Justice's Washington, D.C., office raised concerns about how the proposed boundaries would affect representation for Memphis-area residents. "No single representative would have an incentive to show attention to the issues and concerns with people who live there," said Kareem Crayton, vice president of the organization. He noted that Tennessee has three distinct regions represented by the three stars on its state flag, and the proposed map crosses historically and geographically distinct areas by tying voters from different media markets and time zones together.

Voting rights groups have argued that splitting Memphis into multiple districts would diminish the political influence of a community where more than 1 million people reside. The proposal follows a broader pattern in Republican-controlled states following recent Supreme Court decisions on racial gerrymandering.

What the Right Is Saying

Republican leaders defended the map as legally sound and consistent with recent court guidance. "The Supreme Court has opined that redistricting, like the judicial system, should be color-blind," Sexton said in a statement. "Tennessee's redistricting will reduce the risk of future legal challenges while promoting sound and strategic conservatism."

Sexton and Johnson said in a joint statement they expected both chambers to approve the proposal Thursday. The legislation also seeks to change a state law that currently only allows lawmakers to enact new district maps once per decade, which would give the legislature flexibility for future adjustments.

The map's release follows President Donald Trump's call last year for Republican-led states to redraw their maps to protect the party's narrow House majority. Sexton and Johnson have emphasized that the proposal adheres to the Supreme Court's indication that states like Tennessee can redistrict based on partisan politics.

What the Numbers Show

Tennessee currently has nine congressional districts, with Republicans holding eight seats and Cohen representing the lone Democratic district in Memphis.

The proposed map would split the Memphis metropolitan area into three separate districts, all of which would likely favor Republican candidates under current electoral patterns. The population of the Memphis metro area exceeds 1 million residents.

Eight states have enacted new maps over the past year following court rulings that could result in an additional 13 seats for Republicans and 10 for Democrats, according to redistricting analysts tracking the changes. Some of these maps remain subject to ongoing legal challenges.

The proposal comes amid a mid-decade redistricting push across several Republican-controlled southern states. Louisiana has moved to delay its May 16 House primaries to allow time for new maps after the Supreme Court struck down that state's map as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey called lawmakers into special session this week in preparation for potential action on redistricting ahead of the state's May 19 primary.

The Bottom Line

The Tennessee proposal represents one of several rapid redistricting efforts underway following recent Supreme Court rulings on racial gerrymandering. Republicans in multiple southern states are moving quickly to adjust district boundaries before primaries scheduled over the coming months.

Tennessee's proposed map would require passage through both chambers, where Republicans hold supermajorities, before taking effect for the August primary elections. Democrats have criticized the timing and substance of the proposal but face limited procedural options given Republican control of the legislature.

Legal challenges are likely. Voting rights advocates have signaled concern about potential violations of federal law despite the Supreme Court's recent guidance on partisan redistricting. The change to Tennessee's once-per-decade map restriction could also face legal scrutiny as an unusual modification to state election law.