Tennessee advocates drop federal lawsuit over redistricting maps after Supreme Court ruling

A group of Tennessee voting and civil rights advocates has decided not to refile a federal lawsuit challenging the state's congressional and state Senate maps for alleged racial gerrymandering. This follows a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that raised the standards for proving such claims. The lawsuit was dismissed last month, but the plaintiffs were given the option to amend their complaint. They now plan to focus on encouraging voter turnout for the upcoming Nov. 5 election, highlighting the state's low participation rates. The original lawsuit was the first challenge to Tennessee's congressional redistricting, which critics argue dilutes the voting power of Black residents. Meanwhile, another lawsuit regarding state legislative maps is set for oral arguments in the Tennessee Supreme Court next week.