Tennessee

Racial Representation
Of the voting population of 2,073,524, 16.4% are black and 2.2% are Latino.  Under the current nine-district system, black voters make up the majority in one district.  Under the proposed super districting system, black voters are well-positioned to elect a candidate of choice in Super District C.  In Super District B black voters supporting a candidate with crossover appeal could elect a candidate of choice in coalition with other minority and white voters.
Political Analysis
In the 2000 Presidential election, George W. Bush won Tennessee with 51% of the vote over Al Gore's 47%.  The state's Democratic partisanship is 48.9%.  Under the current nine-district system, there are four Republican districts, two Democratic districts, and two competitive districts.  Under the proposed super districting system, voters would likely elect four Republicans, three Democrats, and two candidates who could come from either party.

SUPER DISTRICT A - THREE SEATS
     

            2000 Presidential Vote

    % Black % Latino
State CD Bush (%) Gore (%) Other (%) Total Origin Origin
Tennessee 1 132304 (60.9%) 81335 (37.5%) 3441 (1.6%) 217080 2.1% 1.5%
Tennessee 2 144412 (59.2%) 95100 (39.0%) 4246 (1.7%) 243758 6.2% 1.3%
Tennessee 3 132792 (57.0%) 96441 (41.4%) 3843 (1.6%) 233076 11.1% 1.6%
Total   409508 (59.0%) 272876 (39.3%) 11530 (1.7%) 693914 6.6% 1.5%

Winning Percentage:

25%
Voting Rights Analysis: Racial minority voters would likely not be able to control their representation.
District Partisanship: 40.9% This super district would likely elect two Republicans and one
Democrat.

 

SUPER DISTRICT B - THREE SEATS
     

            2000 Presidential Vote

    % Black % Latino
State CD Bush (%) Gore (%) Other (%) Total Origin Origin
Tennessee 4 111639 (49.7%) 109559 (48.8%) 3507 (1.6%) 224705 4.4% 1.6%
Tennessee 5 95309 (41.5%) 130111 (56.7%) 4015 (1.7%) 229435 23.4% 4.2%
Tennessee 6 112096 (49.2%) 111872 (49.1%) 3729 (1.6%) 227697 6.3% 2.6%
Total   319044 (46.8%) 351542 (51.6%) 11251 (1.7%) 681837 11.4% 2.8%

Winning Percentage:

25%
Voting Rights Analysis: Black voters supporting a candidate with crossover appeal could, in coalition with other minority and white voters, elect a candidate of choice.
District Partisanship: 53.2% This super district would likely elect one Democrat and one
Republican with one swing seat.

 

SUPER DISTRICT C - THREE SEATS
     

            2000 Presidential Vote

    % Black % Latino
State CD Bush (%) Gore (%) Other (%) Total Origin Origin
Tennessee 7 146213 (58.8%) 99423 (40.0%) 3098 (1.2%) 248734 11.4% 2.2%
Tennessee 8 102998 (47.9%) 109221 (50.8%) 2633 (1.2%) 214852 22.3% 1.6%
Tennessee 9 83531 (35.7%) 147898 (63.2%) 2758 (1.2%) 234187 59.5% 3.0%
Total   332742 (47.7%) 356542 (51.1%) 8489 (1.2%) 697773 30.9% 2.3%

Winning Percentage:

25%
Voting Rights Analysis: Black voters are well-positioned to elect a candidate of choice.
District Partisanship: 52.7% This super district would likely elect one Democrat and one
Republican with one swing seat.

 

This proposal is based on the current congressional districts of Tennessee.  Because current congressional districts are often the results of gerrymandering, the proposed super district boundaries are not as smooth and nice-looking as they could be in a similar proposal that made use of sub-congressional district data.