U.S. Chief District Judge Chip Campbell on Thursday rejected Tennessee Democrats' request for a temporary restraining order to stop the state from implementing a new U.S. House map that favors Republicans.
Why it matters: The legal challenges to the new map will press on, but Campbell's ruling is a critical setback for opponents.
State of play: Democratic candidates, including U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, state Rep. Justin Pearson and Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder, along with Tennessee voters, sued to stop the new map from taking effect.
- Tennessee Republicans drew new district boundaries during a special session last week in hopes of giving the GOP control of all nine of the state's U.S. House seats.
- The lawsuit claims the new map creates election chaos since it was implemented after the qualifying deadline. Several Democratic candidates were drawn out of the districts in which they had planned to run.
Zoom in: The plaintiffs asked Campbell for a temporary restraining order that would block state and local election officials from implementing the new map.
- Campbell, who was appointed to the bench by President Trump, said no.
The bottom line: Since the qualifying deadline for candidates is tomorrow, the courts may determine the election is too far along to stop the map from taking effect this year.
- A separate federal lawsuit and a legal challenge in Davidson County Chancery Court are also seeking to stop the new map from taking effect.
