Tennessee lawmakers weigh in on redistricting decision

(The Center Square) – The Tennessee Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss a challenge to the state’s redistricting maps is devastating, one lawmaker said.

The court dismissed claims over the state House and Senate maps drawn by the General Assembly after the 2020 Census.

Gibson County resident Gary Wygant failed to prove the House redistricting map violated the Tennessee Constitution because it split counties that didn’t need to be split to meet federal standards, the court said. In a ruling about Davidson County’s four senatorial districts, the court said resident Francie Hunt did not have standing to challenge Davidson County’s four senatorial districts.

Senate Democratic Caucus Chairwoman Sen. London Lamar called the ruling a “breath-taking step backward.”

“This ruling is devastating for anyone who believes constitutional rights actually belong to the people,” London said in a statement. “The court has said, in e...