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House and Senate Democrats stand together for a photo at the Tennessee State Capitol after the 2026 special session on congressional redistricting, in which Republicans approved maps that gerrymandered the only Democratic seat into three separate Republican districts.

 Photo: Hamilton Matthew Masters

While the state’s Republican supermajority worked quickly to draw a new congressional district map at the behest of Donald Trump, Democrats worked quickly on a legal strategy to fight back.

“We worked hand in hand,” Tennessee Democratic Party Chair Rachel Campbell said. “And we stood strong and firm with our caucus as they were there on the state legislative floor, in the committee meetings, trying to get things on the record that we needed to make sure that we understood from the Republican Party — so that when we took this to the court, we could have their words and make sure that we were clear on what their plans were and why they did what they did.”