Reform to stop the gerrymandering

Dear Editor,

I want to voice my displeasure with the recent redistricting of Tennessee by the Tennessee State Legislature.

They did it because they could, not because it was a good thing for Tennessee or for Democracy.

It feels uncomfortably like a bully tactic. That is why I feel obligated to take the time to write this letter and not remain silent.

Currently, Tennessee’s black population is about 15%. The Tennessee legislature is 11% Black. This doesn’t represent much power, but at least a population of people has someone who speaks for them. The goal of the recent redistricting is to silence those voices.

Gerrymandering is not representation by the people, but cheating the people of fair representation. It is especially disturbing at this late stage in the 2026 elections.

Victoria Broderick of Lincoln County, Tennessee has been working hard toward winning a seat in the US House of Representatives for more than two years. She has suddenly been moved by gerrymandering to a different district. Lincoln County supporters can no longer vote for her. How unsportsmanlike to rearrange teams in the last quarter of the game!

We need reform to stop the gerrymandering. And we need minority representation because of the healthiness of hearing different voices. Last summer when Texans redrew their maps, the respected conservative commentator David Brooks said that it was the beginning of a race to the bottom. That is exactly what we have seen. It is past time for both parties to stop it. For the health of our democracy, we need reform.

Sincerely,

Bartie Scott

Fayetteville