Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee Calls Special Session to Redraw Congressional Map, Joining Alabama in Post-SCOTUS Push

NASHVILLE — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced on May 1, 2026, that he is calling a special legislative session beginning May 12 to redraw the state’s congressional districts, making Tennessee the second Southern state in as many days to move quickly on mid-decade redistricting following the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling limiting race-based map drawing.

The special session will focus exclusively on congressional redistricting in response to the Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which struck down Louisiana’s map as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. The ruling held that the Voting Rights Act does not require states to create additional majority-minority districts when race predominates over traditional redistricting criteria such as compactness, contiguity, and respect for political subdivisions.

Tennessee currently has nine congressional districts, with Republicans holding seven and Democrats holding two. Republican leaders believe a new map can realistically produce an 8-1 or even 9-0 GOP delegation by adjusting districts to better reflect the state’s strong Republican voter advantage, particularly in growing suburban and rural areas.

Gov. Lee stated the session is necessary to ensure Tennessee’s maps comply with the Supreme Court’s guidance and accurately represent current voter preferences ahead of the 2026 elections. The move closely follows Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey’s announcement of a similar special session on the same issue.

Together, the rapid actions in Alabama and Tennessee signal the start of a broader wave of Republican-led redistricting across the South and Sun Belt. States such as Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina are now expected to review and potentially adjust their maps under the new legal framework established by the Supreme Court. When combined with recent map approvals in Florida and Texas, these efforts could deliver Republicans a substantial net gain in the U.S. House, further solidifying their majority through the end of the decade.

Democrats and voting rights groups have condemned the moves in both states as partisan power grabs aimed at diluting minority voting strength. Republicans counter that the Supreme Court decision simply ends the improper use of race in map drawing and restores traditional redistricting principles.

The Tennessee Legislature, which holds strong Republican supermajorities, is expected to pass new boundaries efficiently during the special session. Gov. Lee has indicated he will sign whatever compliant map the Legislature produces.

This coordinated push in Alabama and Tennessee highlights how quickly Republican-led states are capitalizing on the Supreme Court’s ruling to maximize their congressional advantages ahead of the 2026 midterms. Additional states are anticipated to follow in the coming weeks.