MEMPHIS — Tennessee's Republican-controlled legislature approved a congressional redistricting plan on Thursday, May 8, that shifts Memphis Democratic voters into Republican-held seats. The vote took place days before legislation transferring control of the Memphis-Shelby County school system to a state-appointed oversight board was expected to be signed into law by Gov. Bill Lee.

Minutes after the redistricting was signed into law, Sen. Brent Taylor announced he would run in the redrawn 9th Congressional District. Taylor, who sponsored the Senate version of the schools takeover legislation, denied that either measure was tied to the racial makeup of Memphis, a longtime Democratic stronghold with a majority-Black population. Tennessee Republicans, a majority-white party, hold a legislative supermajority.

"This is about allowing Tennessee to maximize its partisan advantage." Sen. John Stevens said of the redistricting.

Senate Democratic Caucus Chair London Lamar called the redistricting "An absolute power grab." Referring to Memphis representation, she said, "You're going to take that away from us, too. You cannot claim local control while stripping Memphis voters from meaningful representation."

Rep. Mark White, a Memphis Republican, did not cast a vote for or against the redistricting measure. White did not support the redistricting effort.

The schools takeover law would shift control of Tennessee's largest public school district to a nine-person oversight board appointed by the state's top three Republicans, including the governor. The new board would diminish the authority of the local school board.

The board's authorized powers include reviewing district records such as teacher evaluations and curriculum reviews, and controlling the district's largest financial decisions. It will have final say over the district's operating budget and the superintendent contract. The Shelby County Commission must obtain the board's approval before signing off on the Memphis-Shelby County Schools annual budget.

The local school board election held May 5 drew the largest county-wide primary voter turnout in Shelby County in more than two decades. Earlier in 2025, the school board fired a new superintendent.