Tennessee Legislature Strips All Democrats of Committee Assignments After Redistricting Protests

The move followed days of disruptive protests during a special session to redistrict congressional maps.

A member of the Senate Sargeant-at-Arms (R) pulls a banner out of the hands of state Sen. Charlane Oliver, a Democrat representing Nashville, as she protests the redrawing of U.S. congressional voting maps during a special session of the state legislature in Nashville on May 7, 2026. George Walker IV/AP Photo

Republican leaders of the Tennessee Legislature on May 12 responded to last week’s fiery protests against the state’s new congressional map by stripping committee assignments from all Democratic members.

Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton notified state Democratic Leader Karen Camper in a letter that members of her party would be removed from all standing committees and subcommittees of the House of Representatives, except where membership is required.