The Tennessee House Select Committee on Redistricting proposed new maps for the 2022-2030 decade on Friday, December 17th. The full statewide proposed map is located here. They rejected a Democratic alternative map that would have split fewer districts across county lines and would have protected minority representation.
Under the proposed map, the eastern half of Maury County — including most of Columbia, most of Spring Hill, and all of Culleoka — will be in the 64th District. This district is currently represented by Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka).
The western half — including all of Mt. Pleasant, Hampshire, Santa Fe, Williamsport, small parts of Columbia, and Spring Hill west of U.S. Highway 31 — will be in the 71st District, which would stretch from Spring Hill to Savannah through parts of Maury, Lawrence, Wayne and Hardin counties. This district is currently represented by David Byrd (R-Waynesboro).
Generally speaking, the dividing line between the two districts roughly follows these major roads:
- U.S. Highway 31 north of Columbia;
- U.S. Highway 43 in Columbia itself (all the way to the Ridley Sports Complex and Sunnyside Lane); and,
- Campbellsville Pike (TN-245) south of Columbia.
With District 64 being east of this line and District 71 being on the west side.
While the Tennessee GOP has claimed that these maps are the product of a fair, transparent process, the fact that they were released on a Friday before Christmas speaks for itself. Across the state, many districts appear to have been drawn to punish Democratic legislators.
With that said, however, our calculations indicate that the new proposed 64th District is likely 5-10 points less Republican-leaning (based on the R-D margin) than it was under the old map, and with continuing demographic changes the 64th District may become a “purple” district within a few years.
Anyone interested in running for the Tennessee General Assembly should continue to watch the redistricting process carefully. These maps will not become law until approved by the full Tennessee House, the Tennessee Senate and signed by Gov. Lee. Furthermore State Senate and Congressional maps have not yet