The Postscript to the Tennessee Democrat Redistricting Meltdowns Is Just Chef’s Kiss – RedState

As RedState previously reported, red states have wasted no time since the Supreme Court’s decision in the case Louisiana v. Callais case, which ruled that congressional redistricting based solely on race was unconstitutional. States like Alabama, Mississippi and South Carolina are putting the wheels in motion to put new or already-drawn congressional maps in place ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The Tennessee General Assembly was also quick to act, launching a new map Wednesday that could effectively make the state 9-0 GOP in congressional representation instead of 8-1 R/D.

On Thursday, the Republican-controlled House passed the map, followed quickly by the Republican-controlled Senate, as we also reported. Unsurprisingly, there were numerous Democratic meltdowns, including from woketivist Rep. Justin Pearson (Memphis Democrat), who appeared to shove a state trooper for the apparent crime of trying to escort his (Pearson’s) brother out of the noisy House gallery.

LEARN MORE: Watch: Democratic lawmaker has wild exchange with cop during TN redistricting battle

Before that shameful scene, there was this one, where Pearson proclaimed on the House floor that the cards were “racist tools of white supremacy at the behest of the most powerful white supremacist in the United States of America, Donald J. Trump.”

Pearson also said that “you will take the only majority black district from us.” But I want you to know: no matter what you do, no matter how much you try to break us and make us fold and quit – we will always be here.

Watch:

Everyone must watch @JustinjpearsonTN State House Speech.

“Today you will take the only majority-black district from us. But I want you to know: No matter what you do, no matter how much you try to break us and make us fold and quit, we will still be here.” pic.twitter.com/8FKHlT2sd3

– Justice Democrats (@justicedems) May 7, 2026

What Pearson conveniently left out, of course, is that the district in question (TN-09) is represented by an old white guy named Steve Cohen, who has held that seat for almost 20 years:

I can’t believe these evil Republicans took a seat away from this remarkable Black Congressman who has been in office for almost 20 years and is uplifting his fellow Black people in the Memphis area. Things have improved a lot there over the past two decades. pic.twitter.com/RDnF9HZ5iK

– 𝕯ug (@DugShrugged) May 7, 2026

This is where it gets particularly interesting and where we get to the heart of Pearson’s anger.

Cohen has faced major challenges over the years from black Democrats who believe the district should only be represented by one black person.

But guess which black Democrat challenged him this election cycle? Justin Pearson. Pearson is all stomping because he’s about to lose his chance to become a congressman in a district that was originally designed to elect a black Democrat, but has elected a white one for the past two decades.

OMG, they took away “the only majority black district” represented by the WHITE man since 2007👇
This “outrage” does not concern a “majority black district”, but a loss of control by Democrats over African-Americans in this district. pic.twitter.com/g0UcrcFbqs

– Karma Zapati (@placidly1) May 7, 2026

Cry harder, Justin.

Oh, and here’s another fun fact: After Cohen was first elected, he tried to keep his campaign promise to become the first white member of the Congressional Black Caucus, since he would represent a majority-black district.

This…didn’t work:

As a white liberal running in a majority African-American district, Tennessee Democrat Stephen I. Cohen made an unprecedented pledge on the campaign trail last year: If elected, he would seek to become the first white member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Now that he’s a freshman in Congress, Cohen has changed his plans. He said he abandoned his candidacy after several current and former caucus members made it clear to him that white people were not required to apply.

“I think they’re really happy that I’m not joining them,” said Cohen, who succeeded Rep. Harold Ford, D-Tenn., in the Memphis district. “It’s their caucus and they do things their way. You don’t force your way in. You have to be invited.”

You can’t make it up. You really can’t.

Editor’s note: The 2026 midterm elections will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both houses of Congress.

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