Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell is downplaying concerns the redistricting process could undermine some fellow Republicans.
Republicans control the redistricting process, and many expect them to slot multiple Democrats into the same districts, forcing them to run against each other. This week House Democratic Caucus Chair Mike Turner suggested shrinking populations in rural areas could also force a few seated Republicans into the same districts as well.
Harwell says that’s something they’re trying to avoid.
“When you look at the demographics of this state – and certainly it is changing – the growth in this state is really the suburban areas around Nashville, which tends to create Republican districts, so I don’t have a great deal of concern in that area.”
Republican lawmakers have said it could be January before they unveil new district plans.
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