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Opinion | After redistricting, Tennessee Democrats need to stop whining | Richard Ransom

In Tuesday's Ransom Note, Anchor Richard Ransom gives his view on the impact of congressional redistricting in Tennessee.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — In Tuesday's Ransom Note, Tennessee lawmakers are showing they can gerrymander just like any other state by approving new maps for Congress and the state legislature. 

Congressman Steve Cohen's District 9, based on the 2010 Census, only included Memphis, with Congressman David Kustoff's District 8 getting the Memphis suburbs and the rest of West Tennessee.

Starting with the 2022 Election, Cohen's District 9 picks up more of Shelby County and will also split Tipton County with District 8.

It gives Congressman Cohen a lot more Republican voters to contend with, but his seat stays safe.

In fact, he will be the only Democrat representing Tennessee in Washington because of what the Republican-led legislature did to Davidson County.

On Tuesday, Congressman Jim Cooper announced he's stepping down because state lawmakers split up blue Davidson County to be part of three majority red districts.

Other state House and Senate seats got moved around to Republicans' advantage as well, and Democrats are planning to sue, but they'll lose.

After every 10-year Census, the party in power gets to redraw the lines. 

The Republican super majority in Tennessee's Capitol suggests maybe Tennessee Democrats need to look in the mirror instead of pointing fingers. 

Find issues voters will respond to.

Tennessee has been a blue state before, but if they want power again, they better stop whining.

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