Jockeying For Position

New lawsuit challenging Tennessee's congressional map; old candidates jockeying for their positions.

From Megan Podsiedlik

In addition to the NAACP’s lawsuit, three Democrats drawn out of their districts have filed a suit against Tennessee’s new congressional district map. District 9’s U.S. Representative Steve Cohen; his primary opponent, state Representative Justin Pearson (D-Memphis); and Democratic Mayor of Columbia Chaz Molder, who plans to challenge Congressman Andy Ogles in District 5, are all plaintiffs in the case. 

Running outside the lines Though the three candidates are no longer residents in the districts they originally announced their campaigns in, that doesn’t mean they can’t run. During special session, state lawmakers passed legislation that suspends the one-year district residency requirement for 2026 congressional candidates.

If a candidate wishes to run in the same race in the future, they would have to eventually move. It appears that Pearson and Molder plan to press on, but Cohen—who currently holds Tennessee’s only Democratic congressional seat—says he has "no plans to run for the newly drawn congressional districts.” Instead, he is focused on blocking the new map in order to reestablish the old District lines.

D-9 Republicans A few Republicans plan to try and flip D-9 red, which now expands all the way into Middle TN. State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis) announced his bid for the seat last week and was immediately endorsed by Tennessee Senators Marsha Blackburn and Senator Bill Hagerty. Charlotte Bergmann, who has previously challenged Cohen, is currently on the ticket. State Representative Todd Warner (R-Chapel Hill) also announced his run. 

Note: State representatives running to retain their seats in the General Assembly can simultaneously run in a U.S. Congressional race. If a candidate wins both seats, they are only allowed to serve in one. In such case, a special election would be held to fill the vacated seat.

What Horrors We Wrought In 1973, French writer Jean Raspail published one of the most controversial novels of the 20th century. His novel, The Camp of Saints, has been consistently censored throughout its history.

Vauban Books recently published a new translation of the French story, accompanied by a lucid introduction by writer Nathan Pinkoski. Join us as we discuss the legacy of this controversial novel and what it says about the West.

This event is for the benefit of The Pamphleteer, Nashville, and priced with that in mind. Bard-level subscribers receive free admittance.

BLURBS

📈 Crime Blotter This weekend on Broadway, infamous Pump streamer Chud the Builder was arrested after allegedly dining and dashing Bob’s Steak & Chop House. Chud, whose real name is Dalton Eatherly, has racked up attention across social media for walking around Broadway and hurling racial slurs at random bystanders. 

Elsewhere down along the Cumberland, local authorities launched a search and rescue party last night after someone reported hearing cries for help coming from the Cumberland River. TWRA and NFD both deployed boats to patrol the waterway, but didn’t find anything.

But before the weekend got started, thirty-five year old Laplavon Howell threw a cat into a bookshelf, unprovoked, while his roommate was out of the house. When the roommate returned home, saw the limping cat she consulted security footage and caught the incident on tape.

🏇 Bailey Jockeys for Leadership Position Last week, state Senator Paul Bailey (R-Sparta) sent out a letter to Senate Republican Caucus members criticizing the chaotic protests and disruptions that took place on the Senate floor during special session. 

“The Senate is not a stage for political theater, and chaos can never be permitted to replace civil debate and responsible governance,” wrote Bailey.

After praising his Republican colleagues for remaining “disciplined, composed, and focused on conducting the people’s business,” Bailey also signaled his interest in a leadership position among the Caucus. 

Given that long-time Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the Tennessee Senate Randy McNally will be vacating his seat, Senate brass will be reshuffling the deck. Senator Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) and Bailey have both been previously floated as potential candidates to take over as Speaker. Johnson currently serves as the Senate’s Republican Leader, a position that would open up if he takes McNally’s place.

✹ METRO COUNCIL WATCH

New Council Watch Features We've added additional features to Council Watch. In addition to who's funding your council member, you can now see how they vote and who they vote with most frequently. (Take a Look)

HEADLINES

• ⚡️ Middle TN Electric to begin power line relocation project in Rutherford County. Today, crews will begin relocating the existing power lines that run through the Stones River National Battlefield property to the roadway along Wilkinson Pike and N. Thompson Lane. The utility said the relocation will allow crews easier access to the lines and more efficient maintenance. (WSMV)
• 🦪 Salt Line pulls out of Nashville's River North development. Longshot Hospitality has canceled plans to bring The Salt Line to Nashville’s River North development after delays and slow activity in the area. Instead, company leaders said they decided to focus on opening another concept—Ometeo, a Tex-Mex restaurant—in Nashville’s South Bank area by the end of 2027. Some businesses near River North have been frustrated by the slow pace of nearby construction tied to Oracle Corporation’s future headquarters and lower-than-expected foot traffic. (Tennessean)

DEVELOPMENT

• Apartments break ground next to West Nashville Trader Joe's (NBJ)
• Live Nation buys Franklin's FirstBank Amphitheater (NBJ)
• Belmont breaks ground on Music Row building (Post)
• SoBro restaurant The Rutledge closes (Post)
• Pie Town hotel plan progresses (Post)

THINGS TO DO

View our calendar for the week here.

📅 Visit our On The Radar list to find upcoming events around Nashville.

🎧 On Spotify: Pamphleteer's Picks, a playlist of our favorite bands in town this week.

👨🏻‍🌾 Check out our Nashville farmer's market guide.

TONIGHT

🎸 Recorded Live at Analog Presents: Molly Tuttle @ Analog at Hutton Hotel, 8p, $65, Info

🪕 Bluegrass Mondays with Kyle Tuttle @ Dee's Lounge, 6p, $10, Info

🪕 Val Storey, Carl Jackson, Larry Cordle & New Monday @ Station Inn, 8p, $20, Info

💀 Grateful Monday @ Acme Feed & Seed, 7p, Free, Info

🕺 Motown Monday @ The 5 Spot, 9p, $5, Info

📰 Check out the full newsletter archive here.

Today's newsletter is brought to you by Davis Hunt, Megan Podsiedlik, and Camelia Brennan.