POLITICS

Memphis Lawmaker Proposes Secession After GOP Redistricting Vote

PUBLISHED May 7, 2026, 11:18 PM ET

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Memphis, Tenn. State Rep. Antonio Parkinson called this week for Memphis and surrounding West Tennessee counties to secede from Tennessee and form a new state after the Tennessee GOP supermajority approved a congressional map Thursday that splits Memphis into three districts. Parkinson made the proposal during a legislative hearing and reiterated it Friday on Action News 5's A Better Memphis broadcast. The Thursday vote prompted protests at the state capitol and promises of legal action from Democratic lawmakers, with State Rep. Jesse Chism calling the split evidence of racial targeting and House Speaker Cameron Sexton defending the map as population-based; Parkinson urged convening legal scholars and constitutional attorneys to explore options while affected members, including U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen and State Rep. Justin Pearson, no longer reside in the new District 9.

By James Porter | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

Thursday: Tennessee GOP supermajority approves congressional map splitting Memphis into three districts.
Thursday: Protests occur at the state capitol and Democratic lawmakers promise legal challenges.
Thursday (post-vote hearing): State Rep. Antonio Parkinson publicly calls for Memphis to secede from Tennessee.
Thursday afternoon: Memphis city leaders unveil an honorary street sign for Kevin Kane downtown.
Friday: Parkinson reiterates and expands secession proposal on Action News 5 broadcast, proposing a new West Tennessee.

News Intelligence

This redistricting could change who represents you in Congress. It might also affect local policies and funding. If you're in Memphis or West Tennessee, keep an eye on the developments. Check who your current representative is and how the changes might impact you.

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Who Benefited

Republican state legislators secured approval of a new congressional map they say reflects population and political considerations, potentially strengthening GOP electoral prospects in Tennessee's congressional delegation.

Who Impacted

Memphis residents, particularly Black communities, face diluted voting power after the new map splits the city across three congressional districts, prompting protests and planned legal challenges from Democratic lawmakers and civil rights advocates.

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