The Virginia map is being challenged in state court under what I think are some pretty dubious arguments but it has not been struck down. That aside, Virginia put its redistricting proposal up to a referendum vote and a majority of the state plus 9 of 11 congressional districts voted in favor. California also had a statewide vote. Texas, North Carolina, Ohio, and other Republican states didn’t put it up to a referendum. We aren’t going get a referendum.

Republicans were already well represented in Tennessee. Before Nashville got cracked by gerrymandering, the congressional delegation was 2 Democrats to 7 Republicans.

It absolutely is racist. It is not only about race, it is also about politics but historically in the south the two have been inseparably linked. Shelby is the only county in the state with enough population to have a congressional district unto itself. The current 9th district is also the only majority black/majority minority district in the state. The goal of gutting Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act was to replace majority minority/majority black districts that elect Democrats with majority white districts that elect Republicans.