Episode Details

After an April decision by the US Supreme Court gutted the 1965 Voting Rights Act, Tennessee became the first state to redraw its Congressional district maps, resulting in the 9th District—a solidly Democratic seat representing the only majority-Black district in the state—being erased. We speak with Tennessee State Representative Justin Pearson, who has been running to represent Tennessee’s 9th District in the US House of Representatives, about why he is still running despite Republicans’ attempts to rig the electoral process, and what is at stake for Tennessee and the country this midterm election season. 

Additional links/info: 

• Philip Wang, Time, “They gerrymandered away the district he’s campaigning to represent. He’s still running”
• Leigh Cuen, The Tennessean, “Photojournalist shares story behind viral TN redistricting photos”

Credits:

• Videography: Stephen Janis, Maximillian Alvarez
• Post-Production: David Hebden 

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