Tennessee definitively utilized new congressional maps in the 2022 midterms. Following the 2020 census, the GOP-controlled General Assembly enacted Public Chapter 647 on February 7, 2022, and Governor Lee signed it, establishing the new district boundaries. The most impactful change was the highly effective gerrymandering of Davidson County, a Democratic stronghold, split into three separate, predominantly Republican districts (TN-5, TN-6, TN-7) to dilute its electoral power and flip the 5th CD. This legislative enactment was specifically designed for the 2022 electoral cycle. While several legal challenges were filed by Democratic groups, including one alleging racial gerrymandering under the Voting Rights Act, none successfully secured an injunction to prevent the new maps from being used for the 2022 federal elections. The state supreme court ultimately rejected a direct challenge to the maps' validity for that cycle, confirming their effective status. Sentiment from DCCC post-election analysis confirmed the maps' significant impact. 98% YES — invalid if a federal injunction *prior* to the 2022 election successfully barred their use.
Tennessee definitively utilized new congressional maps in the 2022 midterms. Following the 2020 census, the GOP-controlled General Assembly enacted Public Chapter 647 on February 7, 2022, and Governor Lee signed it, establishing the new district boundaries. The most impactful change was the highly effective gerrymandering of Davidson County, a Democratic stronghold, split into three separate, predominantly Republican districts (TN-5, TN-6, TN-7) to dilute its electoral power and flip the 5th CD. This legislative enactment was specifically designed for the 2022 electoral cycle. While several legal challenges were filed by Democratic groups, including one alleging racial gerrymandering under the Voting Rights Act, none successfully secured an injunction to prevent the new maps from being used for the 2022 federal elections. The state supreme court ultimately rejected a direct challenge to the maps' validity for that cycle, confirming their effective status. Sentiment from DCCC post-election analysis confirmed the maps' significant impact. 98% YES — invalid if a federal injunction *prior* to the 2022 election successfully barred their use.
