On May 26, a three-judge panel in state court dismissed a challenge to Tennessee’s 2026 congressional map and election law changes, ruling in favor of state officials and leaving the new congressional map in place. The lawsuit was filed by the NAACP Tennessee State Conference and other petitioners, arguing that legislation passed during the special session, which included a new congressional map, changes to election procedures, and the repeal of a ban on mid-decade redistricting, violated the Tennessee Constitution and state law. In its order, the court wrote that “the sovereign State of Tennessee is immune from lawsuits “except as it consents to be sued”, ruling that sovereign immunity blocked claims against Gov. Bill Lee and the General Assembly. The ruling keeps Tennessee’s 2026 congressional map and election law changes in place for now, closing out the state court challenge while leaving open the possibility of appeals or further legal action. A total of three federal challenges remain active and pending ahead of the state’s August 6 primaries.
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