Current status · Updated May 27, 2026
The state court case was dismissed May 26. All TRO requests have been denied. Three federal cases remain active and are heading toward a preliminary injunction hearing before a federal three-judge panel — the last realistic chance to block the map before the August 6 primary.
No injunction has been granted. The August 2026 primary proceeds under the new map unless the federal three-judge panel grants relief. The NAACP is also appealing the state court dismissal, but that path is unlikely to resolve before August.
Key dates
April 29, 2026
SCOTUS decides Louisiana v. Callais
6-3 ruling guts Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by requiring proof of intentional discrimination — not just discriminatory effect. States can act immediately.
May 4, 2026
TN legislature convenes special session
Speaker Sexton files legislation to repeal Tennessee's 50-year-old ban on mid-decade congressional redistricting.
May 7, 2026
New map signed into law
Both chambers pass the new map. Gov. Bill Lee signs it the same afternoon. Shelby County is split into three districts. Tennessee NAACP files emergency petition within hours.
May 8, 2026
Cohen, Pearson & Tennessee Democratic Party file federal suit
Rep. Steve Cohen, state Rep. Justin Pearson, Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder, the Tennessee Democratic Party, and four voters file in the Middle District of Tennessee. Chief Judge Campbell is assigned.
May 12, 2026
ACLU files second federal suit; Judge sets May 20 hearing
ACLU files on behalf of Memphis voters and civic organizations alleging intentional racial discrimination. Judge Campbell consolidates both federal cases for a May 20 TRO hearing.
May 13, 2026
NAACP updates state complaint
Updated filing cites voter confusion and campaign chaos from rushed election-rule changes passed during the special session.
May 13, 2026
NAACP & LWV file third federal suit
The NAACP Tennessee State Conference and League of Women Voters file a third federal challenge alleging intentional racial discrimination against Black voters in violation of the 14th and 15th Amendments.
May 14, 2026
TRO denied in TNDP/candidates case
Judge Campbell denies the emergency TRO sought by the Tennessee Democratic Party and candidates, declining to immediately block the map.
May 15, 2026
Rep. Steve Cohen announces he will not seek reelection
Cohen, who has held the 9th District seat since 2007, announces he will not run in any of the three redrawn districts. He says he will reconsider if courts block the new map.
May 19, 2026
All three federal cases consolidated
Chief Judge Campbell consolidates all three federal redistricting challenges — from the TNDP/candidates, the ACLU/Memphis voters, and the NAACP/LWV — into a single proceeding.
May 20, 2026
Federal hearing — all TROs denied
Chief Judge Campbell hears consolidated arguments and denies all remaining TRO requests. He writes that voter confusion "counsels strongly against" an injunction this close to an election. The three federal cases proceed toward a preliminary injunction hearing before a three-judge panel.
May 21, 2026
State court hears NAACP challenge
Three-judge state panel hears arguments on whether the special session exceeded its constitutional authority.
May 26, 2026
State court dismisses NAACP case with prejudice
The three-judge panel dismisses the NAACP's state court challenge. Sovereign immunity bars claims against Gov. Lee and the General Assembly; three of four plaintiffs lacked standing; the fourth plaintiff's claims were found without merit. NAACP vows to appeal.
TBD
Federal three-judge panel — preliminary injunction hearing
A three-judge federal panel (Chief Judge Campbell + one additional district judge + one appeals court judge) will hear the consolidated motion for a preliminary injunction. The additional judges have not yet been named. This is the last realistic chance to block the map before the August 6 primary.
August 6, 2026
Primary election
If no preliminary injunction is granted, the August 6 primary proceeds under the new map — the first election without a Memphis-majority district.
The cases
Tennessee NAACP v. Lee
Davidson County Chancery Court — special three-judge panel convened by the Tennessee Supreme Court
- Filed by
- Tennessee NAACP (President Gloria Sweet-Love). Amended May 13 to add state Rep. Jesse Chism and congressional candidate Devante Hill as plaintiffs.
- Filed
- May 7, 2026
- Seeks
- Emergency injunction to block the new map before the August 2026 primary.
Recent developments
- ·May 21 — Three-judge panel heard arguments at the Tennessee Supreme Court Building in Nashville.
- ·May 26 — Panel dismissed the case with prejudice. The court held that sovereign immunity bars claims against Gov. Lee and the General Assembly, and that three of four plaintiffs (NAACP, Sweet-Love, Rep. Chism) lacked standing. The fourth plaintiff (candidate Devante Hill) had standing but his claims were found without merit. NAACP vowed to appeal.
Legal theory
- ·The special session was constitutionally invalid: Gov. Lee's proclamation did not specifically authorize repealing the 50-year-old law prohibiting mid-decade congressional redistricting — so that repeal, and everything that followed, exceeded the lawful scope of the session under the Tennessee Constitution.
- ·Updated complaint (May 13) also challenged election rule changes passed during the session (new qualifying deadlines, suspended residency requirements), citing voter confusion and candidate disruption.
Tennessee Democratic Party & Candidates v. Lee
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Tennessee — Chief Judge William L. Campbell Jr. (filed as Cohen v. Lee)
- Filed by
- Tennessee Democratic Party; state Rep. Justin Pearson (9th District candidate); Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder (5th District candidate); Chaney Mosley (6th District candidate); and four individual voters. (Rep. Steve Cohen, original lead plaintiff, withdrew from the Congressional race on May 15.)
- Filed
- May 8, 2026
- Seeks
- Preliminary injunction blocking the new map for the 2026 election cycle.
Recent developments
- ·May 14 — Judge Campbell denied the emergency TRO, declining to immediately block the map.
- ·May 19 — Consolidated with all other federal redistricting challenges into a single proceeding before Chief Judge Campbell.
- ·May 20 — Consolidated federal hearing held. All remaining TRO requests denied. Judge Campbell wrote that voter confusion "counsels strongly against" an injunction this close to an election. Cases continue toward a preliminary injunction hearing before a three-judge federal panel.
Legal theory
- ·Unconstitutional mid-decade partisan gerrymander targeting Democratic voters and communities.
- ·Voter confusion and irreparable harm from disrupting ongoing campaigns and changing the rules mid-cycle.
Memphis Voters v. Lee (ACLU)
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Tennessee — consolidated before Chief Judge William L. Campbell Jr.
- Filed by
- Three individual Memphis voters; Black Clergy Collaborative of Memphis; Memphis A. Philip Randolph Institute; Equity Alliance. Represented by the ACLU and ACLU of Tennessee.
- Filed
- May 12, 2026
- Seeks
- Preliminary injunction to block the map before the August 2026 primary.
Recent developments
- ·May 19 — Consolidated with all other federal redistricting challenges into a single proceeding before Chief Judge Campbell.
- ·May 20 — TRO denied at consolidated federal hearing. Case continues toward a preliminary injunction hearing before a three-judge federal panel (Chief Judge Campbell + one district judge + one appeals court judge; additional judges not yet named).
Legal theory
- ·Intentional racial discrimination against Black voters in violation of the 14th Amendment (Equal Protection Clause).
- ·Intentional racial discrimination in violation of the 15th Amendment (right to vote regardless of race).
- ·First Amendment retaliation — the map targets Memphis voters for their political expression and association with Democratic candidates.
NAACP et al v. Hargett
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Tennessee — consolidated before Chief Judge William L. Campbell Jr.
- Filed by
- NAACP Tennessee State Conference; League of Women Voters of Tennessee; Memphis-area community organizations and voters. Defendants: Secretary of State Tre Hargett, Elections Coordinator Mark Goins, and members of the Tennessee Election Commission.
- Filed
- May 13, 2026
- Seeks
- Preliminary injunction to block the map before the August 2026 primary.
Recent developments
- ·May 19 — Consolidated with all other federal redistricting challenges into a single proceeding before Chief Judge Campbell.
- ·May 20 — TRO denied at consolidated federal hearing. Case continues toward a preliminary injunction hearing before a three-judge federal panel.
Legal theory
- ·Intentional racial discrimination against Black voters in violation of the 14th Amendment (Equal Protection Clause).
- ·Intentional racial discrimination in violation of the 15th Amendment (right to vote regardless of race).
- ·The map intentionally dismantles Congressional District 9 — the state's only majority-Black district — by splitting Memphis across multiple districts to weaken Black voters' ability to elect candidates of their choice.
What each outcome means
State court appeal succeeds
The NAACP is appealing the May 26 dismissal. If an appellate court reverses and finds the special session exceeded its constitutional authority, the map could be voided for future elections — but this path is unlikely to resolve before the August 6 primary.
Federal three-judge panel issues a preliminary injunction
The strongest remaining path to blocking the map for 2026. If the panel finds the plaintiffs are likely to succeed on their racial discrimination claims, it could enjoin the map and order the 2026 primary run under the old district lines. A preliminary injunction hearing date has not yet been set.
Federal court denies the preliminary injunction — map takes effect
The new map is used for the 2026 primary and general election. Memphis's Black majority is split across three Republican-leaning districts. The federal cases would continue toward a full trial on the merits, but the 2026 elections would occur under the cracked map. Appeals to the 6th Circuit and potentially SCOTUS could follow.
Mixed ruling — partial relief
A court could block some provisions (e.g., the election-rule changes) while allowing the district lines to stand, or vice versa. This would create significant administrative chaos for candidates and county election commissions.
Background: Louisiana v. Callais
On April 29, 2026, the Supreme Court issued a 6-3 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais that fundamentally changed the Voting Rights Act. Under the old standard (in place since 1982), voters could challenge a redistricting map by showing it had a discriminatory effect on minority communities. Under the new Callais standard, they must prove intentional discrimination — an extremely high bar.
This is why the remaining federal lawsuits lean on the 14th and 15th Amendments rather than Section 2 of the VRA. The challengers must prove the map was drawn with intentional racial animus — a difficult standard, but the one the Callais ruling requires.
Follow the fight
Democracy Docket
Tracks redistricting and voting rights litigation nationwide.
Tennessee Lookout
The most thorough on-the-ground coverage of the TN special session and lawsuits.
ACLU of Tennessee
Lead litigant in the federal racial discrimination lawsuit.
NAACP Tennessee
Appealing the state court dismissal and co-plaintiff in the federal NAACP+LWV case.