Study Reveals Tennessee’s Democracy is the Worst in the US

The recent expulsion of state Rep. Justin Jones from the Tennessee House has shed light on the state’s democracy, or lack thereof. Jones, a Black Democratic legislator, was expelled for participating in a peaceful protest for gun control. In response, Jones stated that Tennessee does not have a democracy, a sentiment supported by data.

Research conducted by University of Washington political science professor Jake Grumbach revealed that Tennessee ranks as the least democratic state in the entire country. Grumbach developed the State Democracy Index (SDI), which grades states based on various metrics related to democracy. Tennessee received the lowest score on the SDI, indicating severe issues with democracy in the state.

One of the key factors contributing to Tennessee’s low democratic score is partisan gerrymandering at both the state and federal levels. The state’s redistricting cycle post-2020 census further exacerbated the problem, leading to a lack of competitive seats in the state senate and a super-supermajority for Republicans.

Grumbach’s research also highlighted a concerning trend where Republican-controlled states tend to have lower democratic performance. Tennessee is not an outlier in this regard but rather a reflection of broader anti-democratic behavior in Republican-controlled states.

The racial dynamics at play in Tennessee’s democracy were also evident during the expulsion of lawmakers. Jones and another Black legislator were expelled, while a white legislator who participated in the same protest survived the vote. This racial disparity further underscores the challenges faced by minority lawmakers in the state.

Overall, Grumbach’s research paints a grim picture of democracy in Tennessee and raises important questions about the state’s governance and representation. The expulsion of Jones and the broader issues highlighted by the research serve as a stark reminder of the challenges facing democracy in the state.