Protesters and elected officials rally outside the state Capitol, May 5, 2026

Protesters and elected officials rally outside the state Capitol, May 5, 2026

A three-judge panel appointed by the state's Supreme Court ruled against the NAACP Tuesday, upholding redrawn congressional maps passed earlier this month by the Tennessee General Assembly.

The Black civil rights organization, joined by state Rep. Jesse Chism (D-Memphis) and candidate Devante Hill, sued to block the new districts, claiming the state had acted outside its legal purview during this month's special session by clearing a statutory ban on mid-decade redistricting.