Tennessee, Alabama take steps to redraw House maps in wake of Supreme Court ruling

The Republican governors of Tennessee and Alabama called state lawmakers into special sessions on Friday, initial steps in what could be a scramble across multiple southern states to redraw congressional maps after the Supreme Court narrowed the Voting Rights Act . Depending on how state officials proceed and whether courts intervene, legislators may try to split up Tennessee's sole Democratic district and eliminate one of Alabama's two blue seats. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee convened a special session that will start Tuesday, writing in a statement Friday that lawmakers "owe it to Tennesseans to ensure our congressional districts accurately reflect the will of Tennessee voters." Lee said any changes to Tennessee's map "must be enacted as soon as possible." The state has primaries scheduled for Aug. 6 in this year's congressional elections, though the deadline for candidates to qualify for the primary ballot was in March. GOP Sen. Marsha Blackburn, who is running for governor of Tennessee, has called on state lawmakers to draw a map that gives Republicans an edge in all nine of the state's congressional districts, splitting up the Memphis-area district held by Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen. President Trump has strongly urged Lee to redraw the state's map to give Republicans "one extra seat." Meanwhile in Alabama, Gov. Kay Ivey called a special legislative session starting Monday to potentially schedule special primary elections if a new House map is implemented. …