Race Targeting, Not Partisanship, Drives Tennessee Map

A University of Chicago data scientist uncovered damning evidence that Tennessee’s new congressional map was engineered to dilute Black voting power—not just to favor Republicans. Through millions of simulations, she proved race-targeting, not partisan advantage, best explains the map’s key features. Even when prioritizing GOP gains alone, the computer still produced districts with strong Black representation—until it was explicitly told to crack the Black vote. The map’s design, which spreads voters thin and fractures counties, significantly weakens Black electoral influence without delivering a clear partisan edge. Her findings, filed as expert testimony in a federal lawsuit, could be pivotal as courts grapple with proving racial discrimination in redistricting after the Supreme Court made it harder. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/984bc9d4d0642498