Democrats were handed two major losses in the national redistricting fight after Tennessee officials approved a new map with only likely-Republican seats and the Virginia Supreme Court struck down the state’s recently passed referendum to redraw its congressional map.
Tennessee lawmakers on Thursday approved a new congressional map eliminating the state’s only Democratic-held seat in the U.S. House, giving Republicans a 9-0 advantage in the Volunteer State. The state Legislature convened in a special session this week to consider the new map after a major decision from the Supreme Court last week opened the door for states to reshape racially gerrymandered districts.
The new map is likely to oust Rep. Steve Cohen, the state’s lone House Democrat who has been in office for nearly 20 years.
State Democrats decried the new map as “a form of Jim Crow terror” but Republican lawmakers argued the new boundaries were fair and complied with the Supreme Court ruling.
“This map was drafted based on politics, based on population and the opportunity for the first time in history for us to send an entire Republican delegation from Tennessee to represent the state in Washington, D.C.,” Republican state Rep. Jason Zachary said.
Democrats were dealt another blow on Friday morning when the Virginia Supreme Court struck down a recently approved redistricting referendum that would have allowed the state to redraw its congressional boundaries, giving Democrats several extra seats. That referendum passed last month.
The effort in Virginia was seen as one of Democrats’ best chances to secure a handful of seats heading into November to offset the Republican gains in other states through redrawn maps.
The map decisions in Tennessee and Virginia escalate the monthslong national redistricting fight as parties look at alternate ways to secure victories in November. Democrats could still appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, although it’s unclear if they will do so.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., responded to the ruling on Friday to say that Democrats are “exploring all options to overturn this shocking decision.”
“No matter what it takes, House Democrats will win in November so we can help rescue this nation from the extremism being unleashed by Donald Trump and Republicans,” he said in a statement. “Our fight is not over. We are just getting started.”
Other states are weighing whether to get involved — especially for Democrats who want to even the playing field or other Republican states receiving demands from President Donald Trump to ensure major victories in November.
“We should demand that State Legislatures do what the Supreme Court says must be done,” Trump said in a social media post on Sunday. “That is more important than administrative convenience.”
However, it’s not clear how much of the political landscape can be changed before the midterm elections. Some states have already held their primaries or are currently voting in those races.
Even if it’s too late for some states to jump in, officials are already looking ahead to 2028 — still two years before the census and states are required to redraw their maps anyway.
Democrats in Colorado have said they are considering changes to offset Republican gains in the South. Other states such as New York, Illinois and Maryland are also weighing redraws.