Inside the results: How redistricting shaped Tennessee’s primary election

What the report says

Tennessee’s primaries on Thursday offered the first major test of the state’s newly redrawn congressional map, approved in May, and the results reshaped several key November races. According to Al Jazeera, the changes were part of a broader redistricting push in about 10 states ahead of the 2026 US midterm elections, with Tennessee’s map drawing particular attention after the Supreme Court weakened some federal Voting Rights Act protections earlier this year.

The biggest congressional change came in the state’s newly altered 9th District, which had previously centered on Memphis and was the state’s only majority-Black district. The redesigned seat now stretches far beyond Memphis and is considered more favorable to Republicans. In the Democratic primary, state Representative Justin Pearson won the nomination. On the Republican side, state Senator Brent Taylor advanced, setting up a closely watched general-election contest.

Elsewhere, Republican primary voters ousted US Representative Andy Ogles in the 5th District, where former state Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher won the nomination. In the 6th District, State Representative Johnny Garrett secured the GOP nomination for an open seat after US Representative John Rose ran unsuccessfully for governor. On the gubernatorial side, Senator Marsha Blackburn won the Republican nomination and will face Memphis City Council member Jerri Green in November.

The primaries also confirmed Senator Bill Hagerty as the Republican nominee for US Senate. Overall, the results show how redistricting can alter district boundaries, voter composition and the balance of power heading into the midterms.