Federal court denies motion to halt Tennessee reapportionment

(The Center Square) – The American Civil Liberties Union said it will continue to challenge Tennessee's new congressional district lines after a federal three-judge panel denied a request for an injunction. The organization represents three Memphis voters and others seeking to overturn a General Assembly decision that redrew the state's congressional districts. The new district lines split Memphis and Shelby County, the state's only majority Black congressional district, into three districts. The Republican majority in the Tennessee General Assembly said in May that the decision to redraw the districts was political. The plaintiffs said in the lawsuit that the lines were based on race. The panel from the U.S. District Court of the Middle District of Tennessee said the plaintiffs did not prove that race was a factor when drawing the district lines. "Plaintiffs haven't shown a discriminatory purpose, so they aren't likely to succeed on the merits," the judges said in the decision. The panel also dismissed claims that the plaintiffs would suffer irreparable harm due to the new district lines. "Plaintiffs may suffer some harm – lower odds of electing the congressional candidates of their choosing," the court said. "But because Plaintiffs sued government officials, the 'irreparable harm' suffered by Tennessee merges with the 'public interest' factor. The public is better served by a map created by its elected representatives, not forced upon them by unelected judges." The new map split the 9th Congressional District, which contained much of Shelby County, into three districts. It is the only Tennessee district represented by a Democrat, Steve Cohen, who is not seeking reelection. The 9th District now covers the southeastern part of Shelby County. Republican state Sen. Brent Taylor of Memphis announced he would seek the 9th District post just hours after Gov. Bill Lee signed the district changes into law. He is facing three challengers in the primary: businesswoman Charlotte Bergmann, who unsuccessfully challenged Cohen in prior races; Army veteran Jeremy Thompson and state Rep. Todd Warner of Chapel Hill. The Democratic primary for the 9th District includes state Sen. London Lamar of Memphis, state Rep. Justin Pearson of Memphis, M. LaTroy A-Williams and Jim Torino. The middle and eastern parts of Shelby County are in the 8th Congressional District, which is represented by Republican David Kustoff. Kustoff has no challenger for his 8th Congressional District seat. Dewey Gordon Bryan, Jordan D. Hinders, Heidi Kuhn and Leonard Perkins are seeking the Democratic nomination. The redrawn 5th Congressional District, represented by Republican Rep. Andy Ogles, covers downtown Memphis. It stretches from the middle of the state, up and around the northern border and down into Memphis. The district formerly covered a smaller section of middle Tennessee. Ogles is seeking reelection to his 5th District seat, but has a Republican challenger. Former Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher will be on the Aug. 6 ballot with Ogles. For the Democrats, Yolanda Cooper-Sutton, DeVante R. Hill, Carrie Ann Iacomini and Chaz Molder are running.