Crime, data centers, energy central in Tennessee U.S. House race

(The Center Square) – Energy prices, data centers and crime rates are central to a Tennessee U.S. House race that has captured national attention.

The Tennessee Legislature adopted a new congressional map in May, following the U.S. Supreme Court's Louisiana v. Callais decision. The redrawn map carves up portions of the ninth congressional district where Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., is the only Democrat in the state.

Rep. Cohen chose not to run for reelection following the map’s implementation. State Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Memphis and Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, however, cited the new district boundaries as their motivation to run.

Taylor, a funeral home owner, told The Center Square that his experience in small business and the redrawn boundaries motivated his decision to run in the crucial race.

“I realized I remained in District 9 and it was a Republican seat at that point, basically 60-40 Republican seat,” Taylor said.

Taylor also touted his experience in the Tennessee legislature to support his qualifications for the seat in Congress. The Republican state senator said he would support temporarily suspending gas taxes as prices rise due to the U.S. military conflict in Iran.