KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — As the Tennessee General Assembly’s decision to redistrict the state’s congressional map heads through the court system, 6 News Anchor Lori Tucker and Attorney Greg Isaacs sit down with Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch to discuss the legality of the move and impact redistricting could have on the state.
During a special session last week, the Tennessee General Assembly voted to change the lines of congressional districts, with most of the impact of that being focused on Memphis. Under the newly passed legislature, the state’s only Democratic-held district in Congress was carved into three separate districts.
Could a Knox Co. Commissioner face charges for voting? Lawyer, Victor Ashe explain
As the process was unfolding, Rep. Andrew Farmer (R-Sevierville) admitted to democrats who asked why the redistricting was being rushed through that his party was taking advantage of the political opportunity they had because of the Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais the week before.
Under that 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court’s conservative majority decided that a congressional district in Louisiana relied too heavily on race. That decision effectively weakened a tool within the Voting Rights Act that helped root out racial discrimination in voting, the Associated Press reported…