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ACLU Files Federal Lawsuit over Tennessee Redistricting

May 11, 2026 | , , ,

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and its Tennessee chapter filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a coalition of voters and Memphis-based organizations on Monday challenging Tennessee’s newly enacted congressional redistricting plan, alleging that Republican lawmakers intentionally dismantled the state’s only “black-majority” congressional district in violation of the U.S. Constitution.

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, the lawsuit accuses the “all-white supermajority” in the Tennessee General Assembly of unlawfully “cracking” Memphis into three separate congressional districts in order to “dilute” the black “voting power” and eliminate black voters’ ability to elect a candidate of their choice to Congress.

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GOP State Rep. Todd Warner Launches Bid for Newly-Drawn 9th Congressional District

May 11, 2026 | , , ,

State Representative Todd Warner (R-Chapel Hill) announced his candidacy for Tennessee’s newly-drawn 9th Congressional District on Monday shortly after filing paperwork with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) declaring himself a candidate in the race.

Warner’s filing with the FEC and official campaign announcement comes one day after he appeared on an episode of the podcast Patriot Punkcast, where he informally announced his intent to run for the congressional seat.

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Bill Proposal Seeks to Speed Up VA Projects

May 11, 2026 | , , ,

A new bipartisan congressional bill aims to speed up the timeline for the Veterans Affairs (VA) construction project.

The Faster VA Construction Act, introduced by Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and her colleagues, would allow VA construction projects to use commercial building codes and standards whenever possible.

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TN House Speaker Says Democrats Who Disrupted Redistricting Vote Will ‘Face the Consequences’

May 11, 2026 | , , , , ,

Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) said in an exclusive interview Friday that Democratic lawmakers who were involved in disruptions during the congressional redistricting vote “will face the consequences” as House leadership continues investigating the events surrounding the special session.

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Steve Cohen, Justin Pearson Join Tennessee Democratic Party in Filing Federal Lawsuit Challenging State Redistricting

May 8, 2026 | , , ,

U.S. Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN-09) and State Representative Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) were among the plaintiffs alongside the Tennessee Democratic Party that filed a federal lawsuit Thursday seeking to block the state’s new congressional map and election law changes from taking effect during the 2026 election cycle.

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, the lawsuit argues that the legislation signed by Governor Bill Lee on Thursday would create “voter confusion,” disrupt ongoing congressional campaigns, and overwhelm local election officials ahead of the August primary elections.

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State Democrat Floats Memphis Secession After Redistricting

May 8, 2026 | , , ,

A Tennessee state Democrat is calling for the City of Memphis to secede from Tennessee after the state passed a new congressional map.

The Tennessee General Assembly approved a new map that turns the state’s 9th Congressional District into a district where Republicans are now favored. Previously, the district had been the state’s only majority-black district and a Democratic stronghold.

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Pappert Predicts Difficult Path for Republicans Challenging Blackburn in Governor’s Race

May 7, 2026 | , , , ,

With a new poll showing U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) continuing to dominate the Republican field in the upcoming 2026 gubernatorial primary, The Tennessee Star’s lead reporter Tom Pappert said Thursday that Blackburn has become so entrenched in Tennessee politics that only a political collapse by the senator herself could fundamentally alter the race.

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