A federal judge has cleared the way for Tennessee to move forward with a newly drawn congressional map that heavily favors Republicans, dealing a significant blow to Democratic efforts to halt the plan before the 2024 election cycle kicks into high gear.
U.S. Chief District Judge Chip Campbell rejected a request Thursday from Democratic plaintiffs seeking a temporary restraining order to prevent the state from implementing the redrawn boundaries. The decision sets the stage for the contested map to take effect, though legal challenges remain pending in federal court and state court.
Tennessee Republicans redrew the state's nine congressional districts during a special legislative session, seeking to give the GOP control of all nine seats. The new map was unveiled after the candidate qualifying deadline had already passed, creating what Democrats argue amounts to election chaos.
The lawsuit was filed by Democratic candidates including U.S. Representative Steve Cohen, state Representative Justin Pearson, Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder, and Tennessee voters. They argue that several Democratic candidates were drawn out of the districts where they had already planned to run, upending their campaign strategies.
Campbell's ruling carries particular weight given the timing. The candidate qualifying deadline is Friday, meaning the courts may find that stopping the map implementation at this late stage is impractical. Election officials and candidates are already operating under the new boundaries.
The rejection of the temporary restraining order does not end the legal fight. A separate federal lawsuit and a challenge filed in Davidson County Chancery Court continue to press the case against the map, but Campbell's decision suggests courts may be reluctant to intervene this late in the process.
Republican mapmakers justified the redrawn districts as necessary adjustments based on population changes and voting patterns. Democrats contend the redrawing amounted to partisan gerrymandering designed to entrench GOP power in the state.
Author James Rodriguez: "Tennessee just handed Republicans a major gift right before qualifying closes, and the courts appear unlikely to reverse course this late in the game."
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