Tennessee’s constituency in 2022 divided Nashville into three legislative districts. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

There’s been a lot of chatter lately about the state of American democracy, but the rezoning battles in Texas and California really stand out as particularly troubling. You see, when a party is in power, they often redraw district lines just to secure their advantage, ignoring what voters actually want. It’s all about preserving their power, really.

Nashville residents are all too familiar with this situation. Since the Republicans took control in 2022, they’ve been drawing district lines that serve their interests. In a city that leans blue, the fifth district will now have three solidly red representatives. So, when you look at the demographics, it means that large urban centers like Nashville could end up having no real representation in government. It’s kind of wild how the Outer County operates, almost as if they’re disconnected from the real issues at hand.

This change creates a daunting political atmosphere for most Nashville Democrats, which seems to be the majority here. Interestingly, there’s a bit of schadenfreude when considering how California conservatives are reacting to their own changes, somehow mirroring the discontent we’ve faced here.

The Los Angeles Times reported that residents in one red district in California are feeling neglected; they claim their rural needs are overlooked. It makes you wonder if merging urban and rural areas really benefits either side. The voices in these conversations can get quite heated.

While Nashville Democrats might have their justifications for feeling victimized, it’s tough not to feel a bit of empathy for the struggles posed by gerrymandering. But it’s also important to recognize that both sides are guilty of playing this game. It’s a systemic issue, and one that the Supreme Court had a chance to address but opted not to. Yet, it feels like one party is at the forefront of this practice more than the other, especially with upcoming elections on the horizon.

Californian GOP voters, brace yourselves. While Democrats may respond to these tactics, it’s essential to acknowledge that the cycle began somewhere. Sure, it feels childish to say, “You started it,” but sometimes, that’s just the reality.

On the upside, a recent poll showed that many people are aware of these issues. Most respondents agreed that such district drawings can undermine democracy. It’s somewhat reassuring to see that there’s a collective understanding of the problem, even if it spans both political parties.

Interestingly, gerrymandering can backfire at times. Political analysts refer to certain strategies as “Dummymander,” where overly concentrated partisan drawings can lead to vulnerabilities in future elections. It doesn’t happen often, but isn’t it possible it could here?

In central Tennessee, there’s a special election approaching to fill one of the newly gerrymandered seats following the resignation of Mark Green. His departure presents a rare opportunity for Democrats, but the uphill battle remains clear. Special elections often feature lower voter turnout, which complicates the odds further.

The four Democrats in this race are keen on turning red seats blue, but the statistical challenges of special elections loom large. They’re hoping to tap into voter frustrations stemming from broader topics, particularly under the weight of recent initiatives that have faced public criticism.

On the other hand, the eleven Republicans in this race seem convinced that the established gerrymander will work in their favor since most local voters appear content with Republican representation. While their beliefs might be a bit extreme, they don’t seem to overthink their chances.

Even if it’s hard to swallow, gerrymandering gives the Republicans a solid edge in CD7. Yet, if the Democrats can draw national attention and funding, they might just make this election competitive and interesting.

Reflecting on Green’s departure, it’s notable how he once characterized the district changes as “essentially unfair” while professing a belief in representative democracy. It’s ironic, given his history and some of the actions tied to the prior election cycle.