Judges allow Tennessee’s new Memphis map for Aug. 6 primary—what changes next

A three-judge federal panel on July 23, 2026 refused to block Tennessee’s newly drawn congressional map from being used in the Aug. 6, 2026 primary. That means Memphis-area voters will cast ballots under new district lines, even as the underlying lawsuit challenging the redistricting work continues.

What the court decided on July 23

The judges declined to issue a preliminary injunction that would have paused enforcement of the new Tennessee U.S. House districts before the primary. In practice, the decision keeps the new boundaries in place for the Aug. 6 election stage.

According to reporting on the case, early voting began July 17, and primary election ballots had already been finalized using the new boundaries—one reason Tennessee and election officials argued that an emergency pause came too late.

What Tennessee’s new map changes for Memphis-area voters

Reporting on the decision says Tennessee’s redraw splits apart a long-standing majority-Black district based in Memphis. Instead of keeping that core Memphis voting base together in one U.S. House seat, the new map places Memphis-area voters across three different congressional districts.

For voters, that can affect which U.S. House candidates appear on a ballot and how local campaigns and outreach are targeted.

What plaintiffs asked for—and what they got instead

The plaintiffs sought an emergency stop: they asked the judges to pause the new districts before the Aug. 6 primary. They argued the map diluted Black voting strength and raised constitutional concerns.

Tennessee and election officials argued the challenge should not get a preliminary injunction at that stage—disputing the alleged discriminatory motivation and pointing to the fact that ballots were already finalized under the new lines.

Crucially, this was a preliminary-injunction decision. It does not end the lawsuit on the merits.

What voters and candidates should do next

• Check your assigned district before the Aug. 6 primary. With Memphis-area voters split among multiple districts, the contest on your ballot may differ from what you expected under older lines.
• Plan campaign and outreach around the new district boundaries. Candidate filings, canvassing, and voter contact strategy generally follow district lines—and those lines changed.
• Watch the court docket for later steps. A denial of emergency relief means there is still legal work ahead in the background.

What’s still uncertain

Because the panel declined to block the map at the preliminary stage, the lawsuit is not over. The next courtroom steps could include further motions and, later, possible remedies that would change how districts are drawn or used—but that is not something the July 23 order itself decides.

Sources

• AP News — Federal judges allow Tennessee’s new congressional map for Aug. 6 primary
• Sherman et al. v. Hargett et al. (Doc. 62) — Order (Per Curiam), July 23, 2026