Gerrymandering Succeeded in Splitting Memphis, Failed in Red State Takeover

Tennessee Republicans’ gerrymandering efforts in the state’s 9th Congressional District succeeded in ending Democratic representation in the longtime majority-Black district. But the move also outraged many voters, who turned out to flip one congressional seat and several state House seats blue. 

Republicans’ state goal of a completely red congressional map was dashed with a surprise Democratic victory in the 4th Congressional District, where Victoria Broderick ousted longtime incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais. Broderick won by fewer than 300 votes, and did so with a big turnout from the Davidson County voters who have been gerrymandered into the district.

Victoria Broderick Flips 4th Congressional District Blue

Fayetteville Democrat beats longtime Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais

This spring’s redistricting saw the significant redrawing of the 5th, 8th and 9th districts in particular, but Democrats — with renewed energy at the local and national levels — remained competitive across much of the state. Democratic candidates Chaz Molder in the 5th and Justin Pearson in the 9th became targets of relentless political attacks by the GOP.

In the 9th, Republican U.S. Rep.-Elect Brent Taylor, who also won reelection to his Shelby County state Senate seat on Tuesday, earned 50 percent of the vote compared to Pearson’s 49 percent. In the 5th, Republican U.S. Rep.-Elect Charlie Hatcher earned 52 percent of the vote compared to Democrat Molder’s 47 percent.

“We know that this district was drawn to be insurmountable, and we came very close because of the coalition that we built,” Modler told reporters after conceding the race Tuesday night. 

Earlier this year, Molder told Scene sister publication the Williamson Scene that he saw opportunities for Democrats in the post-gerrymandering race, later saying Memphis “was where this campaign really found some renewed life after the primary.” Though he lost the race, he said its competitiveness showed that redistricting “backfired.”

“The fact that our race got so close was an indicator that [redistricting] backfired,” Molder said. “This race should not have been this close, but what we heard from were voters who were angry about the redistricting — not just the gerrymandering that happens across the country, but to change the map after the game had already begun I think is what most voters were really unhappy about.”

While attention and money were focused on those congressional races, as well as the gubernatorial race, Democrats also flipped several state House seats. Democratic wins included Jesse Huseth in House District 97, Allie Phillips in the 75, Bryan Goldberg in 18, and several Rutherford County seats — Brett Windrow in 13, Connie Casha in 49, and Owen Farnsworth in 34.

Democrats also retrained several other state House seats. 

“We are now six seats closer to breaking this harmful Republican supermajority in the Tennessee House,” Democratic Caucus Chair John Ray Clemmons of Nashville says in a statement. “When you consider that the six seats we flipped were recently gerrymandered to safely elect Republicans, it makes these wins even more momentous. While we are still a superminority, we are resolute in our fight for working families and have confirmation that progress is possible in Tennessee."