Federal court denies injunction on Tennessee redistricting

A federal three-judge panel denied a preliminary injunction to halt Tennessee Republicans’ gerrymander of Memphis, allowing the new congressional map to take effect as lawsuits proceed. Plaintiffs, including Memphis voters and civil rights groups, argue the map dilutes Black political power by splitting the former 9th District into three districts. Judges have generally found no direct evidence of racial motivation for the redraw, attributing changes to political factors rather than explicit racial considerations. The rulings echo a broader post-Supreme Court trend in the South, where redistricting followed a ruling that narrowed protections under the Voting Rights Act. While injunctions were denied, the plaintiffs say they will continue challenging the maps, and other courts have reached similar outcomes in related cases. The ongoing litigation underscores persistent disputes over minority representation as Tennessee proceeds with the new districts ahead of elections.