The map, passed by Tennessee Republicans during a special legislative session, dismantles the Memphis-area district represented by Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen and creates a projected 9-0 Republican congressional delegation.
Plaintiffs argued the map was racially discriminatory and accused Republicans of targeting Black voters by dismantling the majority-Black district.
They also warned that upcoming candidate filing deadlines and election preparations would make it increasingly difficult to reverse the map later.
“Relief is needed now before the maps are locked in and Black voters are irrevocably forced to use an illegal, discriminatory map,” plaintiffs argued in court filings.
