A new Tennessee congressional map that splits Memphis is making its debut in the state's primary

(AP) — A new Tennessee congressional map that carved up a majority Black district in Memphis is making its electoral debut Thursday in a primary election that will determine the nominees for a Republican attempt at a clean sweep of the state's U.S. House districts in the midterms.The primaries were upended just three months before the vote when the Republican-led Legislature redrew congressional districts following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that weakened federal Voting Rights Act protection for minorities.

President Donald Trump cheered the redistricting as part of a national plan to try to help Republicans hold on to their slim House majority.Trump has endorsed state Sen. Brent Taylor in the four-person Republican primary for the significantly reshaped 9th Congressional District, which now stretches about 200 miles (320 kilometers) east from Memphis before reaching north toward the Nashville area. The district, which previously favored Democrats, now tilts toward Republicans, and some Memphis voters have raised concerns that their representation has been diminished.After the redistricting, longtime Democratic U.S.

Steve Cohen announced that he would no longer seek reelection in the 9th District. Cohen's primary challenger, Democratic state Rep. Justin Pearson, then was joined by state Sen.

London Lamar in what became a four-person contest.Pearson gained national attention in 2023 when he was expelled by the Republican-led state House for protesting in support of gun control measures following a deadly school shooting in Nashville. Memphis voters later reelected him.Republicans currently hold eight of the state's nine congressional seats.Memphis voters voice their dismay over redistrictingFor decades Memphis, the most populous city in Shelby County, formed the base of its own congressional district. Now the county is split among three districts that extend outward like spokes into rural areas.Lonzo Taylor, a retired postal worker and military veteran, said Black voters like himself have had their voices diluted.“We only had one district in the whole state of Tennessee, and you don’t even want that to be fair?

It’s just terrible,” said Taylor, 72. “I love this state, but I am very disappointed in our governor,” who called lawmakers into a special session for the redistricting.Milla Meiman, 23, who voted early in the Democratic primary, …