Sen. Marsha Blackburn Urges Tennessee to Redraw Congressional Maps for 2026 Midterms

WASHINGTON — Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) is calling on the Republican-controlled Tennessee Legislature to redraw the state’s congressional maps ahead of the 2026 elections, joining a growing wave of GOP-led mid-decade redistricting efforts across the South.

In a Newsmax interview on April 30, 2026, Blackburn said Tennessee should follow the example set by Florida and Texas and take advantage of the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down Louisiana’s racially gerrymandered map. She argued that Tennessee’s current districts — drawn after the 2020 census — do not fully reflect the state’s strong Republican voter advantage and rapid population growth in conservative areas.

Tennessee currently holds nine congressional seats, with Republicans occupying seven and Democrats holding two. Blackburn and other state Republicans believe a new map could realistically flip at least one additional Democratic-held district, further solidifying GOP control of the delegation.

The push comes one day after the Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision in the Louisiana case, which ruled that the Voting Rights Act does not require states to create additional majority-minority districts when race predominates over traditional redistricting criteria. Legal experts say the ruling removes a major obstacle for Republican legislatures in Southern states seeking to redraw maps without fear of successful racial gerrymandering lawsuits.

Tennessee’s General Assembly, which convenes in regular session early next year, could call a special session to address redistricting. Gov. Bill Lee has not yet taken a public position, but the legislature’s Republican supermajorities give the party significant leverage to pass new boundaries.

Blackburn emphasized that the move is about fair representation and ensuring maps reflect current voter preferences rather than outdated racial quotas. Democrats have already labeled the effort as partisan gerrymandering.

The Tennessee redraw would join similar actions in Florida (which just approved a map expected to net four GOP seats) and Texas (projected to gain up to five). Together with the Supreme Court’s Louisiana decision, these efforts could deliver Republicans a substantial net gain in the U.S. House, strengthening their majority heading into the 2026 midterms.

No timeline has been set for a special session in Tennessee, but Blackburn’s public encouragement signals that the issue is now a top priority for the state’s Republican leadership.