US President Donald Trump has announced that Tennessee will redraw its congressional map following a Supreme Court ruling that effectively weakened a key part of the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act. The decision removes certain race-based restrictions on redistricting, prompting Republicans to push for new maps in several states ahead of the November midterm elections.

The ruling, which concerned Louisiana's map, raised the bar for proving racial discrimination in redistricting, requiring challengers to demonstrate racist intent. This imperils Black-majority districts nationwide, which have historically favored Democrats. Louisiana has already delayed its primary to redraw its map, expected to create another Republican-leaning district.

Trump claimed on Truth Social that Tennessee Governor Bill Lee agreed to correct an "unconstitutional flaw" in the state's maps, though Lee has not confirmed this. A new map in Tennessee is expected to net another solidly Republican district, boosting GOP chances of retaining the House.

Beyond Tennessee, Georgia's Republican governor has also signaled a review of its maps. Other states like Indiana, Kentucky, Kansas, Mississippi, and South Carolina could eventually pursue redistricting, though likely not this election cycle. The process, typically done once a decade, is now subject to intense gerrymandering as both parties seek advantage.

Critics argue the current redistricting spree has escalated gerrymandering to unprecedented levels. Political analysts predict Democrats may retake the House due to Trump's low approval ratings, but the margin is expected to be razor-thin, with only a handful of seats determining control.

Source: www.aljazeera.com