Image Credit: London Lamar / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
While it seems likely the Republican-led congressional redistricting efforts will be successful during the special legislative session called by Gov. Bill Lee, Democrats have no plans to quietly acquiesce, already developing legal strategies to potentially offset in the courts whatever action may prevail in Tennessee’s legislative branch this week.
State Democrats, particularly Memphis-area lawmakers, have been extremely opposed to the redistricting since it will likely eliminate the state’s only reliable Democrat seat, and have vowed to fight the process however they can, including potential legal action if the new maps are passed.
“A storm is coming,” said Sen. London Lamar at a press conference following the first day of the special session on Tuesday. “Right now Republicans already got 8-1 seats in Congress, now they want to take 9-0. They not good enough to do the work and actually beat Congressman Cohen fair and square at the ballot box, they want to unfairly take his seat. Today we say, ‘Hands off Memphis!’”
“This is an attempt to stop majority black communities from being able to elect representatives who look like them,” Democrat Rep. Justin Pearson, who also happens to be running for the congressional seat the redistricting will likely eliminate, said earlier this week. Notably, Congressman Cohen, who has held the 9th District seat for almost 20 years, is white.
Pearson also took aim at President Trump at a rally on Monday, calling him a “White supremacist domestic terrorist who is seeking to destroy our democracy by any means necessary, including by usurping democracy itself and the voices of people. And Governor Bill Lee, Speaker Sexton, and Lt. Gov. McNally have all decided to join him in this effort to destroy our democracy, to take away our voice and to attack black people and black representation. And that’s wrong.”
Democrats have confirmed that though they anticipate the maps will pass, they are moving through the special session strategically to create a framework for how they can respond afterward.
“Our goal is to lay the foundation for legal challenges that are necessarily going to come and hopefully allow us to push this into the court system,” said House Democratic Caucus Chair John Ray Clemmons. “Whether it’s to delay it, overturn it. … That’s the limitations of our recourse at this moment.”
“No Democrat in the state legislature is going to stand for this,” Clemmons added. “And we’re going to fight like hell to make sure that, if they do this, they’re going to come out of this bruised and looking as bad as possible, as they very well should.”
Congressman Cohen also confirmed he has spoken with attorneys in preparation for legal action, proclaiming, “The courts is where we can win. Brown v. Board of Education came through the courts. Roe v. Wade came through the courts. Many of our rights have come through the courts.”
Both the NAACP and ACLU have orchestrated anti-redistricting campaigns, hosting town halls and sending mass text messages, and it is likely they will sponsor or come alongside any Democrat legal challenges.
If the courts do become involved post-session, the case will need to move expeditiously as primary elections are already scheduled, and Republicans have made considerations in their proposals for already-qualified candidates who may end up being drawn out of the district in which they have been campaigning.
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
