Democrats' congressional district map draws ice-water reaction
Tennessee Democrats are submitting a congressional redistricting map that keeps Davidson County whole and puts communities of interest together, but at least one state senator is pouring cold water on the plan.
The proposal is likely to draw heat, not just because Republicans control the House and Senate, but because it draws a new 4th Congressional District and puts Republican Congressman Scott DesJarlais of Jasper in a realigned 6rd Congressional District with Republican Congressman John Rose of Cookeville.
“I can tell you, that’s not gonna happen,” state Sen. Mike Bell, co-vice chairman of a Senate redistricting committee, said Tuesday. “I don’t know anything else about the map, but I can tell you that’s not gonna happen.”
Under the Democrats’ plan, the new 4th District would take in Williamson, Rutherford and Wilson counties and the cities of Hendersonville and Spring Hill, giving it a population of 768,026, .10% from the optimum number. A deviation of .75% is allowed from 767,871. More than likely, those counties would elect a Republican congressman, since they are reliably red.
Read more: https://tennesseelookout.com/2021/11/17/democrats-congressional-district-map-draws-ice-water-reaction/
A map of Tennessee’s congressional districts as drawn by legislative Democrats. (Map courtesy of Tennessee Senate Democratic Caucus)