tennessee redistricting

When the Republican-controlled Tennessee legislature gathered to redraw congressional maps earlier this year, they had a goal. They wanted to gain a seat in the U.S. House, and they did that by splicing Davidson County, home to Nashville, into three more rural, Republican-leaning districts. That could dilute the Democratic stronghold just enough to give the GOP another seat on their quest to take back the House this November.

The 20th Judicial District Chancery Court is ordering Republicans to redraw Senate maps in a lawsuit over their constitutionality.

Three Tennesseans have filed a lawsuit against Gov. Bill Lee over the redistricting process. In the complaint, filed Wednesday afternoon, the plaintiffs say the state House and Senate maps were drawn largely out of view of the public, and without input from elected Democrats.

Tennessee lawmakers are expected to take final votes on newly drawn electoral districts this week and voting rights advocates are already eyeing legal challenges.

The newly drawn Tennessee district maps have flown through legislative committees on party-line votes. The Republican-led state Senate could pass the maps Thursday.

Is it a dinosaur? An esophagus? The shapes might spark the imagination, but Democrats are saying they represent a power grab.

Lawmakers previewed congressional and state Senate maps proposed by the public Tuesday morning, one of the steps they’ve decided to take before presenting their own maps in January. Nine plans were shown, but the hourlong presentation may not be that meaningful.

Tennessee is one of the few states that doesn’t have to get public feedback during redistricting, but nonpartisan voting groups are asking lawmakers to…