Image Credit: MemphisTN.gov
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
As opponents of Tennessee’s recent redistricting continue to scramble in attempts to prevent the new map from being used in the upcoming 2026 congressional primary, the Memphis City Council has passed a resolution objecting to the map, and another federal lawsuit has been filed by a congressional candidate.
On Tuesday, the Memphis City Council voted 10-1 to officially go on record in opposition of the redrawn congressional districts which splits District 9, a Black-majority area, into three different districts, citing racism and an infringement on civil rights.
“The Memphis City Council does hereby vehemently oppose the newly redrawn Tennessee congressional map, as it has damaging effects on the City of Memphis’s voters and Congressional representation, undermines the priorities of the City of Memphis and disrespects the history, work, sacrifice, and martyrdom of civil rights and voting rights advocates from the past through the present day,” the resolution reads.
“Be it further resolved that the Memphis City Council does hereby condemn the actions of Tennessee Representatives and Senators who voted in favor of the new congressional map and Governor Bill Lee for choosing partisan loyalty over civic duty and citizen [welfare],” it continues.
The resolution does not signal any intent to pursue further action by the council, but rather stands in symbolic solidarity with other advocacy organizations and Democrat lawmakers who are pursuing lawsuits to stop the new map from taking immediate effect.
And another suit has joined the other three already in play. Filed by Pamela Moses, an Independent candidate running in District 8, the claim is a federal civil rights lawsuit “seeking an emergency injunction to stop the state’s unprecedented mid-election redistricting,” a press release from Moses’ campaign says.
Moses alleges the suit, in which she will be representing herself pro se, was filed after she was issued an “8-day ultimatum to either switch districts or withdraw from the race.” Notably, the redistricting package included legislation which allows candidates to remain on the ballot in the district for which they originally qualified, so Moses’ complaint of an ultimatum may be unfounded.
She also claims her official candidacy announcement, originally scheduled for May 12, has been disrupted by the redistricting, saying her campaign infrastructure has been built around the announcement and has now been thrown into “uncertainty by the state’s actions”.
“I was ready to officially announce my candidacy to the world…Instead I am in federal court fighting for my constitutional right to even remain on the ballot. The State of Tennessee has interfered with my campaign, my voters, and my announcement. But they have not stopped me. The people deserve to hear my voice and have a real choice,” she wrote.
Moses has a storied history in Tennessee, gaining national attention in 2021 when she was convicted of voter fraud. She had 16 prior felony convictions and attempted to register to vote when she was reportedly ineligible and on probation. In 2015 she pleaded guilty to evidence tampering, both felonies, forgery, stalking, theft under $500, and escape, earning her seven years of probation and a permanent ineligibility to vote. She claimed that she was unaware she would not be able to vote when given probation.
Her conviction and prison sentence for voter fraud was later overturned, and she was granted a new trial after it was discovered in appeal that the Tennessee Department of Corrections failed to turn over a necessary document in the case which supposedly showed an administrator in the department failed to properly investigate the status of Moses’ case and signed a certificated confirming Moses’ probation had ended. The charges were later dropped by the Shelby County District Attorney after she had served roughly 80 days in jail.
A founder of Black Lives Matter Memphis, Moses has run for several offices including Memphis Mayor and U.S. Senate, and her campaign platform policies include Criminal Justice Reform, Environmental Sustainability, and Reparations “for descendants of slavery, including land, property, or non-repayable grants of $50,000 per person or family.”
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.
