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By Kate Plummer
Senior US News Reporter
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Tennessee has approved its new congressional map as several Southern states are considering similar moves after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling last month narrowed how race may be considered under the Voting Rights Act.
The decision in Louisiana v. Callais, issued on April 29, has fueled a new phase of the national redistricting fight, as Republican-led states weigh changes that could affect control of the U.S. House in future elections.
Tennessee passed the new congressional map during a session on Thursday, which was met with major protest from House Democrats who exited the chamber. Some members also carried signs and airhorns as part of their protest, while observers in the overhead gallery grew so raucous that it required state police to clear the area to maintain order.
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Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally took to social media to defend the new map, writing on X that it would "help ensure the voices we send to Washington represent the people of this state and advance the principles they believe in: Strong borders, safe communities, and fiscal responsibility."
"The fight for control of Congress is a civilizational struggle for the future of our economy, the security of our communities and the strength of our nation," McNally wrote. "By passing this map, Tennessee is stepping forward to play a meaningful role in that fight."
States Pursue New Voter Maps After Supreme Court Ruling
Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and South Carolina are also among the states pursuing new maps, court challenges or special legislative action that could reshape representation before the 2026 midterms. Mississippi is also responding to the ruling, though its special session concerns state Supreme Court districts rather than congressional maps.
In its 6-3 decision in Louisiana v. Callais, the Supreme Court struck down Louisiana's congressional map, narrowing when states may use race-conscious districting to comply with the Voting Rights Act without violating the Equal Protection Clause.
The court's conservative majority found that Louisiana violated the Equal Protection Clause by creating a second majority-Black congressional district to comply with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Voting rights advocates said the ruling weakened decades of protections against minority vote dilution, while Republican officials said it clarified constitutional limits on the use of race in redistricting.
In response, several Southern governors have already urged state legislatures to begin reviewing their maps, though because of legislative calendars and court deadlines, an immediate impact on the 2026 midterms may be limited.
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Here is where redistricting efforts stand in several Southern states.
Tennessee
Tennessee Republicans unveiled a proposed map on Wednesday that would split majority-Black Shelby County among three districts and divide Maury County, a move that could imperil Democratic Representative Steve Cohen, who represents the state’s 9th Congressional District.
Speaker Cameron Sexton said in a statement: "The Supreme Court has opined that redistricting, like the judicial system, should be colorblind—the decision indicated states like Tennessee can redistrict based on partisan politics. Tennessee’s redistricting will reduce the risk of future legal challenges while promoting sound and strategic conservatism."
Alabama
On Friday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announced that lawmakers would convene on May 4 to discuss the state’s congressional map. "I remain hopeful Alabama will receive a favorable outcome from the U.S. Supreme Court, which is why I am now calling a special session of the Alabama Legislature," she wrote in a post on X.
Alabama is barred by a federal court order from adopting a new congressional map before the 2030 census, but Republican officials are seeking to lift that order through an emergency motion at the Supreme Court.
Florida
Last week, Florida lawmakers passed Governor Ron DeSantis' new congressional map for the state, which could boost the GOP's hold on the U.S. House.
The redrawn map would likely create up to four additional GOP-leaning districts. DeSantis said the update reflected population shifts since the 2020 Census and anticipated the Supreme Court's ruling.
Louisiana
Louisiana is the focal point of the Supreme Court case. Governor Jeff Landry suspended the state's U.S. House primaries after the ruling to allow time for lawmakers to consider new congressional districts, though the process faces ongoing legal challenges.
Mississippi
On April 24, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves said, ahead of the Supreme Court ruling: "I am using my constitutional authority to allow the Mississippi Legislature to use their constitutionally recognized right to draw these maps once the new rules of the game are known following Louisiana vs. Callais."
The special session concerns judicial redistricting rather than congressional maps. Reeves has said lawmakers will return to redraw Mississippi Supreme Court districts after the ruling.
South Carolina
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster signaled interest in revisiting the state's congressional map, writing on X on Friday that "it would be appropriate for the General Assembly to ensure that South Carolina’s congressional map still complies with all requirements of federal law and the U.S. Constitution." But he stopped short of calling a special session to redraw the map himself.
On Wednesday, the House approved an amendment allowing lawmakers to return later after normal working hours to redraw districts to potentially eliminate the only Democratic-held district in the state. This proposal will now head to the state's Senate.
The state's only Democratic U.S. House member is Representative Jim Clyburn.
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