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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsA masterclass in election-rigging: how Republicans 'dismembered' a Democratic stronghold
Republican lawmakers in Tennessee gave final approval on Monday to an aggressive plan to split Nashville, a Democratic bastion, in a deeply Republican state, into several congressional districts as part of an effort to tilt the states congressional map in their favor. The plan is now waiting for approval from Governor Bill Lee, who is likely to sign it.
Nashville currently sits in the states fifth congressional district, represented by Jim Cooper, a Democrat who has held the seat for nearly 20 years. Its a solid Democratic district Joe Biden carried it by nearly 24 points in 2020 but on Tuesday, Cooper announced he was retiring from Congress.
Despite my strength at the polls, I could not stop the general assembly from dismembering Nashville. No one tried harder to keep our city whole, he said in a statement. I explored every possible way, including lawsuits, to stop the gerrymandering and to win one of the three new congressional districts that now divide Nashville. Theres no way, at least for me in this election cycle, but there may be a path for other worthy candidates.
The new districts crack the concentration of Democratic voters in Nashville and cram them into three districts that stretch across the state and are filled with reliable Republican voters. Donald Trump would have easily carried all three of the proposed districts in 2020. The plan is one of the clearest, and most brazen, efforts to dismantle a Democratic district to benefit Republicans.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2022/jan/25/nashville-tennessee-gerrymandering-congress-republicans
onecaliberal
(32,852 posts)Baitball Blogger
(46,703 posts)It sound ripe for challenge.
dsc
(52,160 posts)The federal courts won't get involved in partisan gerrymandering. That leaves Tennessee courts and I have no idea what they are like.
gab13by13
(21,323 posts)I believe they are doing the same gerrymandering in Memphis.
They split Nashville in 3 parts and extended those 3 parts into rural GQP areas that will ensure that a "Republican" wins.
Passing S1 was critical, Schumer waited too long to push for it. He should have broken up S1 into pieces and brought every bill up for a vote rapid fire. When every sensible bill was voted down by Republicans then Schumer should have gone to Manchin and Sinema and told them I expect your vote for a carve out to the filibuster, you are either for free and fair elections or you are for an autocracy.
WarGamer
(12,440 posts)My home District in SoCal was changed this year to (probably) eliminate the GOP'er rep...
gab13by13
(21,323 posts)Doesn't California have a non-partisan commission draw up its districts?
But this GOP'er should be out on his ass either way...
It's an interesting District... historically swung back and forth between D and R... and the map redrawn a few times.
CA25/26...
gab13by13
(21,323 posts)Tennessee GQP state legislators are drawing up the districts.
ecstatic
(32,701 posts)to it. What's the point of fake/rigged elections? Pretty soon our elections will be viewed the same way as Russia's.