On Friday, May 1, Governor Bill Lee officially called a special legislative session of the Tennessee General Assembly to review and potentially redraw Tennessee’s congressional map after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that districts can no longer be created using race-based metrics.
Following a conversation with President Trump last Thursday, the Governor’s office announced the session will begin Tuesday, May 5, to “formally review the state’s congressional map following the renewed nationwide action around congressional representation.”
“We owe it to Tennesseans to ensure our congressional districts accurately reflect the will of Tennessee voters,”said Gov. Lee. “After consultation with the Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House, Attorney General, and Secretary of State, I believe the General Assembly has a responsibility to review the map and ensure it remains fair, legal, and defensible.”
The release also emphasizes that, “In order to comply with mandatory election qualifying timelines and ensure Tennesseans have reflective representation, any change to Tennessee’s congressional map must be enacted as soon as possible.”
