On Wednesday morning, the Supreme Court sided with fairness and the rule of law in its opinion in Louisiana v. Callais, which returned the Voting Rights Act to its original intent: to protect against intentional racial discrimination. This decision doesn’t discriminate; it says we are all Americans. It restores equal protection under the law, which should be easy for all of us to celebrate. The court sided with Martin Luther King, Jr.’s vision for a colorblind society and said that racial preferencing doesn’t belong in our elections, just as it doesn’t belong in college admissions.
Following the ruling, I immediately called for our Tennessee state legislature to reconvene as soon as possible to redraw our map — this should yield another conservative seat. From hosting campaign schools to supporting strong conservatives up and down the ballot, I&#8217;ve worked to keep Tennessee a red state, and now we have an unprecedented opportunity to ensure Tennessee has nine solid Republican congressional seats by revisiting the state’s Ninth Congressional District, home to the solidly Democratic area of Memphis.
As governor, I&#8217;ll work tirelessly to make this map a reality, but the fact of the matter is, we can’t wait that long. The legislature must reconvene as soon as possible to pass a new map for it to be in effect for this year’s elections.
I was encouraged when President Donald Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116494706928688681">posted on Truth Social</a>: “I had a very good conversation with Governor Bill Lee, of Tennessee, this morning, wherein he stated that he would work hard to correct the unconstitutional flaw in the Congressional Maps of the Great State of Tennessee. Likewise, all of the other Political Representatives of Tennessee have promised to do so.”
Since the ruling, liberals have bemoaned that redrawing the lines would create a “lack of representation,” but it’s funny, I’ve never heard a liberal bemoan the lack of conservative representation in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Hawaii, or Delaware.
There is no doubt: Tennessee is a conservative state — we don’t have a state income tax, we don’t allow illegals to run our state, we fight to protect faith, family, freedom, hope, and opportunity, and I want to keep it that way. In fact, that’s why I’m running for governor. We have the potential to be America’s conservative leader. But this is bigger than the Volunteer State; the trajectory of our country is at risk.
If we are to make Tennessee America’s true conservative leader, this is where it begins.
As Donald Trump himself said, this will &#8220;help Save our Country from the Radical Left Democrats, and their Country destroying Policies of High Tax, Open Borders, Transgender Mutilization[sic], Defunding the Police, ICE, and Border Patrol, No Voter ID, Soft on Crime, and so much more.”
Immediately passing a new, 9-0 map is essential to cementing President Trump’s America First agenda and America’s Golden Age. I will do everything I can to support the legislators who take up this mantle and help us secure the future of our state and of our great nation.
***
Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) is the state’s senior senator. She is also running for governor.

Flag of the US State of Tennessee

Marsha Blackburn: Redraw Tennessee’s Lines Now

DW Opinion

Marsha Blackburn

Redistricting

Tennessee

Tennessee appears poised to redraw its congressional map in a move that could eliminate the state&#8217;s lone deep-blue district in the Memphis area, currently represented by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN), following Wednesday’s Supreme Court ruling narrowing the scope of the Voting Rights Act.
President Donald Trump said on Thursday afternoon that he had communicated with Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee about the possibility of a redraw.
“I had a very good conversation with Governor Bill Lee, of Tennessee, this morning, wherein he stated that he would work hard to correct the unconstitutional flaw in the Congressional Maps of the Great State of Tennessee,” Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116494706928688681">posted</a> to Truth Social.
“Likewise, all of the other Political Representatives of Tennessee have promised to do so. This should give us one extra seat, and help Save our Country from the Radical Left Democrats, and their Country destroying Policies of High Tax, Open Borders, Transgender Mutilization, Defunding the Police, ICE, and Border Patrol, No Voter ID, Soft on Crime, and so much more. Thank you Governor Lee — PUSH HARD!” Trump added.
The comments come after Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) called for a redrawing of the Volunteer State’s map. Blackburn is running for governor as Lee is termed out, encouraging lawmakers to act.
“I urge our state legislature to reconvene to redistrict another Republican seat in Memphis. It&#8217;s essential to cement [Trump’s] agenda and the Golden Age of America,” Blackburn <a href="https://x.com/VoteMarsha/status/2049515547910381782">wrote</a> in an X post.
“I’ve vowed to keep Tennessee a red state, and as Governor, I&#8217;ll do everything I can to make this map a reality,” she added.
In response to the president’s Truth Social comments, Blackburn posted, “Fantastic news. Thank you, [Trump] and [Lee]!”
The Supreme Court&#8217;s decision in Louisiana v. Callais hinged primarily on a majority-minority district in Louisiana, which Justice Samuel Alito wrote was “an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.”
The ruling&#8217;s broader implications are likely to be tested beyond Louisiana. Tennessee and other states, including Mississippi, have majority-minority districts created under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. In her dissent, liberal Justice Elena Kagan warned that the decision could effectively gut those protections.
“After today, those districts exist only on sufferance, and probably not for long,&#8221; Kagan wrote. &#8220;If other States follow Louisiana’s lead, the minority citizens residing there will no longer have an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice. And minority representation in government institutions will sharply decline.”
Louisiana has already moved to suspend its May congressional primaries as its maps are redrawn in accordance with the ruling, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-louisiana-suspends-primaries-after-major-supreme-court-ruling?author=Cameron+Arcand&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Louisiana%E2%80%99s+Election+Calendar+Just+Got+Blown+Up+After+Supreme+Court+Ruling" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire</a> reported Thursday morning.
Potential redistricting changes could shape the battle for control of the House of Representatives in November.

US-GERMANY-POLITICS-TRUMP-MERZ

Red State Could Wipe Out Deep-Blue House Seat After Trump’s Big Move

Bill Lee

Congress

House of Representatives

The Supreme Court’s ruling narrowing the scope of the Voting Rights Act is already prompting calls from Republicans to redraw congressional maps, a move that could create more GOP-friendly seats, particularly across the South.
In Tennessee, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) on Wednesday encouraged state lawmakers to reconvene and redraw district lines in a way that could flip a Democratic-held seat.
“I urge our state legislature to reconvene to redistrict another Republican seat in Memphis. It&#8217;s essential to cement [Donald Trump’s] agenda and the Golden Age of America,” Blackburn, who’s running to succeed Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee, posted to X following the decision.
“I’ve vowed to keep Tennessee a red state, and as Governor, I&#8217;ll do everything I can to make this map a reality,” she added.
Memphis is currently represented by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) in a heavily Democratic district.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I urge our state legislature to reconvene to redistrict another Republican seat in Memphis. It&#8217;s essential to cement <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a>’s agenda and the Golden Age of America.
I&#8217;ve vowed to keep Tennessee a red state, and as Governor, I&#8217;ll do everything I can to make this map a… <a href="https://t.co/qljW0mxiqG">pic.twitter.com/qljW0mxiqG</a>
— Marsha Blackburn (@VoteMarsha) <a href="https://twitter.com/VoteMarsha/status/2049515547910381782?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2026</a></blockquote>
The court’s 6-3 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais found that the state violated constitutional limits by drawing a majority-minority district predominantly on the basis of race. Writing for the majority, Justice Samuel Alito said Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act “was designed to enforce the Constitution — not collide with it,” adding that “lower courts have sometimes applied this Court’s […] precedents in a way that forces States to engage in the very race-based discrimination that the Constitution forbids.”
“The State’s attempt to satisfy the Middle District’s ruling, although understandable, was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander,” Alito wrote.
The full implications of the ruling remain unclear, but it could open the door for challenges to similar race-based districts in other states.
In Alabama, Attorney General Steve Marshall, a Republican, <a href="https://www.alabamaag.gov/attorney-general-marshall-applauds-momentous-supreme-court-redistricting-decision/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the state would move quickly to ensure its maps &#8220;reflect the will of the people, not a racial quota system the Constitution forbids.&#8221;
&#8220;The Court rightly acknowledged that the South has made extraordinary progress, and that laws designed for a different era do not reflect the present reality,&#8221; Marshall stated.
Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves signaled even before the ruling that he was prepared to call a special session to redraw maps, particularly affecting the state’s deep blue 2nd Congressional District.
“It is a decision that could (and in my view should) forever change the way we draw electoral maps,” Reeves wrote last week.
In Georgia, Republican state Sen. <a href="https://x.com/DolezalForGA/status/2049508266175062141?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Greg Dolezal</a> called on lawmakers to revisit district lines, arguing that the current maps should be redrawn to benefit Republicans.
“The last thing that Republicans need to do is be weak-kneed in this moment. This is a time to be bold. This is a time to be aggressive,” Dolezal, who’s running for lieutenant governor, said in a video.
Democrats, meanwhile, blasted the decision. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said the court “just turned its back on one of the most sacred promises in American democracy—the promise that every voice counts.”
The ruling lands amid an already intensifying redistricting battle ahead of the 2026 midterms, with both parties seeking an edge in the fight for control of the House during the final stretch of President Donald Trump&#8217;s term.

Sen. Lankford Speaks To The Press On “Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act”

Republicans Ramp Up Redistricting Push After Supreme Court Ruling

Georgia

Mississippi

Republicans

There are approximately 25 states in the nation that can reliably be called red, but not all red states were created equally. Some big red states have frustrating blue stains that make them appear purple. Some red lawmakers cater to those blue voters way too much.
But, there are also red states behaving in beautifully red ways, blue stains be damned.
Now you’re talking about Tennessee.
In an incredible win for law-abiding citizens everywhere, Tennessee lawmakers just passed HB 1802, a bill headed straight to Governor Bill Lee&#8217;s desk that would allow property owners to use deadly force to protect their personal property. Lee is expected to sign the legislation.
Yes, fellow 2A proponents, that means would-be burglars, arsonists, trespassers, rapists, and all other manner of criminal characters could legally be confronted with the business end of a bedside Glock.
These Tennessee-based lawbreakers will now be thinking twice before coming onto someone else’s property with bad intentions. Because when bad intentions meet common sense laws, well, it’s time to meet a little something known as consequences for your actions.
Rep. Kip Capley (R), one of the bill&#8217;s sponsors, <a href="https://www.wkrn.com/news/tennessee-politics/bill-deadly-force-property-defense/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">put it plainly</a>, &#8220;Right now under current law, if someone is breaking into your property, if they&#8217;re stealing from you, if they&#8217;re destroying what you&#8217;ve worked your entire life to build, you&#8217;re expected to wait. You&#8217;re expected to hesitate. You&#8217;re expected to second-guess and take a calculated risk at defending what&#8217;s yours.&#8221;
Democrats, predictably, were vehemently opposed, stopping just short of saying home invasions should be handled by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/socialism-in-a-designer-suit-nyc-is-in-for-a-hard-lesson-if-mamdani-is-elected" target="_blank" rel="noopener">soft spoken social workers</a>.
&#8220;I do not think we should give people license to kill people over property,&#8221; one opponent said. That’s a perfectly reasonable opinion to have, if you’ve never had someone steal your truck, torch your barn, or raid your home with your sleeping family inside at 2 a.m. while the police are forty minutes away.
The Senate passed SB 1847 on April 21st. The House followed with HB 1807 on April 23rd. If the governor signs it, property owners will be able to use deadly force to prevent trespass, arson, damage to property including livestock, burglary, theft, robbery, or aggravated cruelty to animals as soon as July 1, 2026.
America, take notes.
This is the exact moment that the <a href="https://store.dailywire.com/products/make-america-tennessee-hat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Make America Tennessee Hat</a> was made for. Crisp white. Blaze orange lettering. Adjustable snapback. Embroidered flag. It&#8217;s more than a fashion statement. This hat tells the rest of those red states, and even the blue ones, that it’s time to take the plunge and act red for once.
It&#8217;s made for the people who believe you shouldn&#8217;t have to cower in the closet as thieves ransack your hard-earned property, wondering if you’d be the one getting prosecuted for confronting them.
Tennessee is doing what the rest of the country is too scared to do: trusting law-abiding citizens over the criminals who prey on them. Low taxes, strong faith, Second Amendment freedom, “Nuclear Family Month,” and now a strong stand for self-defense.
Wear it loud and proud, no matter what state you call home. Make America Tennessee indeed.
<a href="https://store.dailywire.com/products/make-america-tennessee-hat?_pos=1&amp;_sid=bd555dcf0&amp;_ss=r"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-1084073 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/image-1-461x576.png" alt="" width="461" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/image-1-461x576.png 461w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/image-1-240x300.png 240w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/image-1-768x960.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/image-1.png 1230w" sizes=" (max-width: 461px) 100vw, 461px" /></a>

America’s Most Conservative State Just Gave Property Owners The Right To Shoot Invaders

Daily Wire Shop

Second Amendment

Tennessee leaders made clear that the state values the nuclear family far more than any leftist virtue signaling.
Republican Governor Bill Lee signed a resolution on April 9 designating June as “Nuclear Family Month.” For years, June has been known as Pride Month, when numerous businesses and organizations celebrate every sexuality except heterosexuality and lecture Americans about “acceptance” and “diversity.”
But this year, Tennessee has made June all about traditional families and made clear that the “nuclear family, consisting of one husband, one wife, and any biological, adopted, or fostered children, is God’s design for familial structure and has been the bedrock of society since the creation of the world.”
The resolution also takes a sledgehammer to the leftist pet projects of population control, and instead, prioritizes the growth and development of the traditional family in Tennessee.
“Tennessee’s values do not align with the humanistic, globalist ideologies of the World Health Organization, the United Nations, and like-minded organizations that fight for population control through the means of promoting sterilization and abortion practices,” the Tennessee resolution continues, adding, “The nuclear family is under attack in our beloved State and nation, and it is our responsibility to uplift, protect, and support values that help Tennessee prosper.”
Of course, leftists were not happy with Tennessee after Governor Lee signed the resolution. LGBT activists raged against the language put forward in the resolution, giving Tennesseans one more reason to celebrate what makes their state so great.
Tennessee’s traditional, family-oriented resolution sets the tone for a state that has led the nation in pushing back against radical leftist gender ideology. In the past few years, Tennessee — the home of The Daily Wire — has banned life-altering gender procedures on children, prohibited schools from hiding children’s gender “transitions” from parents, prevented boys from competing in girls sports, and ensuring that girls don’t have to share bathrooms and locker rooms with boys who believe they are the opposite sex.
Tennessee has proven to be a state that values traditional morality and common sense, something every state could use a dose of, especially that one big state on the West Coast that everybody is fleeing.
The Daily Wire Shop is celebrating Tennessee’s latest great move and inviting you to do the same by wearing our <a href="https://store.dailywire.com/products/make-america-tennessee-hat?srsltid=AfmBOoq8bXW6ZoNxGr13wvt2FGeFoIyXMpntBef240FJOtLhpWk7m5OB" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Make America Tennessee Hat</a>. Get a hat in white with <a href="https://store.dailywire.com/products/make-america-tennessee-hat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tennessee orange</a> or go with the <a href="https://store.dailywire.com/products/make-america-tennessee-hat?variant=43476671922236" target="_blank" rel="noopener">classic camo and rock it at the range</a>, the rally, the tailgate, or just down Main Street. Wherever you go, make it clear that you stand with Tennessee, you stand for sanity, and you stand for America.
<a href="https://store.dailywire.com/products/make-america-tennessee-hat?srsltid=AfmBOoq8bXW6ZoNxGr13wvt2FGeFoIyXMpntBef240FJOtLhpWk7m5OB"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1081087 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/DWS-MakeAmericaTN-NuclearFamily-4x5-1-461x576.jpg" alt="" width="461" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/DWS-MakeAmericaTN-NuclearFamily-4x5-1-461x576.jpg 461w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/DWS-MakeAmericaTN-NuclearFamily-4x5-1-240x300.jpg 240w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/DWS-MakeAmericaTN-NuclearFamily-4x5-1-768x960.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/DWS-MakeAmericaTN-NuclearFamily-4x5-1.jpg 1230w" sizes=" (max-width: 461px) 100vw, 461px" /></a>

From Pride To Principles: Tennessee Flips The Script On LGBT’s June Takeover

LGBT

Pride Month

Tennessee has had enough of LGBT Pride Month and will now recognize June as &#8220;Nuclear Family Month.&#8221;
Tennessee Republican Governor Bill Lee signed a <a href="https://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Bill/HJR0182.pdf">resolution</a> this month that designates June as a month for the state to celebrate the nuclear family, which the resolution defines as a husband, a wife, and any biological or adopted children. The resolution easily passed the Republican-dominated state legislature, clearing the House 72-18 last year and passing the Senate 26-4 last month.
&#8220;The nuclear family, consisting of one husband, one wife, and any biological, adopted, or fostered children, is God&#8217;s design for familial structure and has been the bedrock of society since the creation of the world,&#8221; the resolution states.
&#8220;Tennessee&#8217;s values do not align with the humanistic, globalist ideologies of the World Health Organization, the United Nations, and like-minded organizations that fight for population control through the means of promoting sterilization and abortion practices,&#8221; the Tennessee resolution continues, adding, &#8220;The nuclear family is under attack in our beloved State and nation, and it is our responsibility to uplift, protect, and support values that help Tennessee prosper.&#8221;
The resolution highlights the devastating results that children often reap from growing up in fatherless homes. It also highlights a 2016 study, which found that of a sample of 56 school shooters, 82% of them &#8220;were raised in an unstable family environment or without both biological parents together.&#8221;
Leftist organizations expressed outrage after Lee signed the resolution last week. The LGBT activist organization GLAAD called Tennessee lawmakers who passed the resolution &#8220;clueless.&#8221;
“The strongest families are grounded by love,&#8221; a GLAAD spokesman <a href="https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/tennessee-nuclear-family-month">told</a> the LGBT news outlet The Advocate. &#8220;Lawmakers trying to exclude and intentionally harm some families should be recognized as actively harming all by not focusing their time working for an inclusive Tennessee where all are welcome and can succeed.”
June has been nationally recognized as Pride Month since a declaration signed by former President Bill Clinton in 1999. Following the Supreme Court&#8217;s landmark decision in favor of gay marriage in 2015, LGBT Pride Month became increasingly popular, with numerous American organizations and businesses pushing LGBT themes and messages throughout June.
Last year, however, as many Americans pushed back against the Left&#8217;s constant trumpeting of LGBT talking points and its embrace of transgender procedures for children, some companies dialed back their messaging during Pride Month. The election of President Donald Trump in November 2024 also reflected Americans&#8217; growing frustration with the Democratic Party&#8217;s adoption of LGBT talking points.
Tennessee was among the first states to ban gender procedures on children, prohibit schools from hiding children&#8217;s gender &#8220;transitions&#8221; from parents, and crack down on drag queen performances in public or in settings where children are present.

Tennessee Nuclear Family Month

‘God’s Design’: Red State Swaps Pride Month For ‘Nuclear Family Month’

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti accused a Nashville public school of &#8220;promoting particular religious viewpoints&#8221; through its accommodation of Muslim students during Ramadan, saying the school crossed the line from allowing religious exercise to actively facilitating it.
In a Tuesday <a href="https://tennesseestar.com/justice/tennessee-ag-skrmetti-weighs-legal-implications-of-muslim-prayer-accommodations-in-nashville-public-school/khousler/2026/04/15/">interview</a> with the Tennessee Star, Skrmetti responded to reports that a Metro Nashville Public Schools employee set up a dedicated Islamic prayer room at John Overton High School and encouraged Muslim students to skip class to use it.
“Free exercise says the government can’t stop you from practicing your religion,” Skrmetti explained. “The establishment clause, as interpreted, and as we hear about every time the legislature tries to do anything these days, says that the state can’t … participate in promoting particular religious viewpoints.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨BREAKING &#8211; I asked <a href="https://twitter.com/AGTennessee?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AGTennessee</a> Skrmetti today if the MNPS decision to allow Muslim prayers during school hours in a dedicated room led by an MNPS employee at Overton High School coerces non-Muslim students and violates the Religious Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. <a href="https://t.co/LhaaXAwEgL">pic.twitter.com/LhaaXAwEgL</a>
— Michael Patrick Leahy (@michaelpleahy) <a href="https://twitter.com/michaelpleahy/status/2044187616606859387?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
John Overton High School, according to a <a href="https://nashvillebanner.com/2026/04/07/ramadan-muslim-students-overton-high-school/">report</a> from the Nashville Banner, permitted more than 80 students to skip class daily during Ramadan prayer sessions, in addition to separate “food-free” classrooms for fasting Muslim students. Students reportedly used paper towels as improvised prayer mats and set up a divider separating boys and girls before one student recited passages from the Quran. Outside of the month of Ramadan, students are reportedly permitted to leave school grounds once a month to pray.
“So if the school is dedicating resources to something, that’s a very different situation than if the students are self-organizing,” Skrmetti added. “I look at it as an attempt to propagandize and proselytize [non-Muslim] students. That’s my view.”
In a similar vein, the U.S. Department of Education guidance released in February <a href="https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-issues-guidance-prayer-and-religious-expression-public-schools">states</a> that “public schools may not sponsor prayer nor coerce or pressure students to pray.”
“School officials should allow members of the public school community to act and speak according to their faith, as long as&#8230; The school itself does not engage in religious activities or speech as an institution,” the guidance continues.
The Tennessee attorney general teased further state action on the issue, concluding: “I expect that we’ll be hearing more about it one way or another.”
The controversy comes as Tennessee lawmakers grapple with the role of religion in public schools more broadly. State House Bill 1491, which would have required public schools to set aside a period for prayer and Bible reading, was temporarily <a href="https://www.tnfirefly.com/news/protecting-religious-liberty-and-expression-in-public-schools-act-tabled-for-summer-study?ref=pamphleteer.co">tabled</a> in a 12-7 committee vote last week in favor of further research on the issue over the summer.
Proponents of the bill argue that the bill aligns with the Supreme Court&#8217;s Kennedy v. Bremerton decision in 2022, which held that the First Amendment protects individuals engaging in religious activities from government reprisal.

Cultural Center In Chicago Aids Rohingya Refugees Resettling In The U.S.

Prayer Mats. Gender Dividers. Quran Readings. Classroom Changes During Ramadan Paid For By Taxpayers

Islam

Public Schools

Religious Freedom

Blue America is best for families. For years, America’s elites have insisted that <a href="https://academic.oup.com/book/32782">blue states</a> — with their higher incomes, better-<a href="https://academic.oup.com/book/32782">educated residents</a>, and expansive public services — are the best places to raise a family. Progressive policies such as paid family leave, childcare subsidies, and gender-neutral bathroom mandates, we were told, would draw parents in droves. Such policies prove “that one major party cares about children and families, and <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/07/30/jd-vance-childless-cat-ladies/?itid=lk_inline_manual_27">the other does not</a>,” according to <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/07/30/jd-vance-childless-cat-ladies/?itid=lk_inline_manual_27">liberal journalist</a> Catherine Rampell. 
But the data tell a different tale. Across the country, families are packing up and leaving blue states for red states. They are also more likely to have children in red states to begin with. 
The <a href="https://familystructureindex.org/">2026 Family Structure Index</a>, just released by the Center for Christian Virtue and the Institute for Family Studies, tracks family health across all 50 states. It focuses on three measures: marriage rates, fertility rates, and the share of children raised by married parents. These factors shape everything from child poverty to the health of the American Dream. 
What it reveals is a growing divide in where families are choosing to live — and where they are choosing to start a family.
Call it the Great American Family Sort.
Married couples with children are increasingly moving to red and purple states. From 2019 to 2024, 840,000 married families with children moved from blue states to red ones, while 470,000 moved in the opposite direction — a net gain of 370,000 such families for red states. 
Red states also enjoy higher fertility rates, all of which helps explain why red states have <a href="https://ifstudies.org/blog/the-lefts-family-problem-marriage-and-kids-cratering-among-liberal-young-adults">seen</a> a 7.3% increase in their child population since 2000, while blue states have seen a 7.1% decline. That shift is another indicator that Red America is proving more hospitable to family life.
In other words, <a href="https://ifstudies.org/blog/the-blue-state-family-exodus-families-are-migrating-to-red-and-purple-states">blue states</a> long seen as the best places to raise children by liberal elites — states like California, Massachusetts, and New York — are steadily losing them.
Why? Start with what families actually need: jobs, homes, and safe neighborhoods. On each of these fronts, many red states are delivering. Over the past decade, states like Texas, Florida, and South Carolina have seen strong job growth, especially in sectors that support middle-class life. When young adults can find steady, well-paying work, they are more likely to marry and start families.
Housing is just as critical. Affordable single-family homes provide the space and stability families <a href="https://ifstudies.org/report-brief/homes-for-young-families-a-pro-family-housing-agenda">want</a>. Yet in many blue states, especially on the coasts, restrictive zoning and high costs have pushed homeownership out of reach for young families. In much of red America, that dream remains attainable.
Taxes also shape family <a href="https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/state/americans-moving-to-states/">migration</a>. Lower tax burdens in many red states leave families with more room in their budgets, whether for childcare, a good private school, or saving for the future.
<div id="attachment_1073407" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1073407" class="size-large wp-image-1073407" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-1329602381-864x576.jpg" alt="San Francisco, CA, USA - August 17, 2020. Image of a moving truck parked in San Francisco's Nob Hill neighborhood." width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-1329602381-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-1329602381-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-1329602381-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-1329602381-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-1329602381-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-1329602381-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-1329602381-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />James Rice. Getty Images.</div>
Safety matters as well. Parents want to raise children in communities where they feel <a href="https://ifstudies.org/report-brief/homes-for-young-families-a-pro-family-housing-agenda">secure</a>. States and cities that keep crime and public disorder low have a clear advantage in attracting and retaining families, even as many blue states are “plagued by homelessness, crime and dysfunction,” all of which are turnoffs to families, as even the liberal columnist Nick Kristof has <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/15/opinion/progressives-california-portland.html">admitted</a>.
Still, economics alone does not explain what is happening. Family culture also matters. In many red states, there remains a stronger expectation around marriage and family formation, often stemming from deeply held religious beliefs. Social norms shaped by churches, civic life, and local leadership still influence how people live. Faith remains a powerful driver of American family life.
The <a href="https://familystructureindex.org/">Family Structure Index</a> underscores this point. Frequent religious attendance accounts for 57% of the variance in fertility rates across states. States with high religious attendance, such as Utah and Mississippi, have far higher birth rates than states like Vermont or Massachusetts, where churchgoing is rare.
None of this suggests that red states have solved every problem. Marriage and fertility are down nationwide, and no region is immune. But the trend is clear: families seem more likely to thrive in some states rather than others. That should tell policymakers something important. If states want to attract and keep families, the formula is straightforward: make housing attainable, foster job growth, keep communities safe, and support a culture that encourages marriage and child-rearing. 
The deeper lesson is harder to accept. For too long, liberal elites have assumed that higher incomes and more government spending automatically lead to better outcomes for families. The evidence suggests otherwise. Public safety, good jobs, affordable homes, and culture matter just as much, if not more.
The Great American Family Sort is more than a demographic shift. It is a signal. Families are making their priorities clear through where they choose to live and have children. The question is whether the rest of the country is paying attention.
* * *
Aaron Baer is president of the Center for Christian Virtue. 
Brad Wilcox is Distinguished University Professor of Sociology at the University of Virginia and senior fellow at the Institute for Family Studies.

Asheville and Johnson City exit sign on highway in Tennessee on interstate 81 road

Turns Out Families Are Voting With Their Feet And Headed In One Direction

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NFL quarterback and former Tennessee Volunteer Josh Dobbs agrees with Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) on the University of Tennessee — but do they agree on the moon landing?
The pro football player has a degree in aerospace engineering, so the rocket scientist wasn&#8217;t missing the historic Artemis II launch Wednesday in Florida.
Ahead of takeoff, Dobbs posted on <a href="https://x.com/josh_dobbs1/status/2039327238663893107?s=20">X</a>: &#8220;We go back to the moon today. Historic&#8221; — to which Burchett offered a short response that seemed to say a lot about the congressman&#8217;s views on space.
&#8220;Back?&#8221; Burchett posted on <a href="https://x.com/timburchett/status/2039411215273783501?s=20">X</a>. And just like that, an unexpected tongue-in-cheek beef was born between sports and state.
&#8220;You can&#8217;t be one of those people,&#8221; Dobbs <a href="https://x.com/josh_dobbs1/status/2039454338003665390?s=20">replied</a> to Burchett.
Does Burchett really buy into the conspiracy that the United States has never actually made it to the moon?
No! Following the fun exchange, the congressman reminded his constituents that it was April Fools&#8217; Day.
&#8220;Breaking: Check the calendar. It was sarcasm,&#8221; Burchett <a href="https://x.com/timburchett/status/2039510661009399937?s=20">said</a>.
So Dobbs, who is affectionately called the &#8220;Passtronaut,&#8221; is united with his fellow Vols fan in bringing attention to how important the Artemis II moon mission is.
Wednesday&#8217;s successful launch is sending the first crew back to the moon in more than 50 years. The spaceship will circle around the moon before returning to Earth.
Dobbs ended the online back-and-forth with a picture of Artemis II blasting through the atmosphere, inviting Rep. Burchett to the next NASA launch.
&#8220;Tim Burchett I’ll see you at the next one,&#8221; Dobbs <a href="https://x.com/josh_dobbs1/status/2039478858148176228?s=20">said</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/timburchett?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@timburchett</a> I’ll see you at the next one <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/believe?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#believe</a> <a href="https://t.co/LCim3KdRBH">pic.twitter.com/LCim3KdRBH</a>
— Josh Dobbs (@josh_dobbs1) <a href="https://twitter.com/josh_dobbs1/status/2039478858148176228?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2026</a></blockquote>
Why is an NFL player so enthralled with space? Dobbs majored in aerospace engineering at Tennessee, where he graduated with a 4.0 on top of the grueling Southeastern Conference football schedule.
In 2020, Dobbs interned with NASA at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where he got to witness a SpaceX rocket launch.
&#8220;I really felt the nervousness watching the countdown, knowing what those astronauts have gone through to get to this moment,&#8221; Dobbs told <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/jags-qb-josh-dobbs-was-at-nasa-spacex-launch-as-nasa-intern">NBC Sports</a> after the launch. &#8220;Being able to see the teamwork involved in preparation for this launch was incredible for me. It&#8217;s so much like a football team — you see how everyone doing their job fits together and makes something great happen. That&#8217;s what I really appreciated about the experience.&#8221;
The &#8220;Passtronaut&#8221; certainly lives up to his name. Dobbs started a <a href="https://www.astrordinarydobbsfoundation.org/">foundation</a> called &#8220;The ASTROrdinary Dobbs Foundation, Inc.&#8221; The organization&#8217;s slogan: &#8220;The Sky Is Not The Limit.&#8221;
Through his non-profit, he&#8217;s raising funds for youth-focused STEM initiatives and educational programs across Rep. Burchett&#8217;s state of Tennessee and beyond.
Despite a busy schedule, the 31-year-old has kept up with the Artemis program for years, telling NASA back in 2020 that he couldn&#8217;t wait for Americans to land on the moon &#8230; again.
&#8220;Obviously been a while since we’ve gone to the moon and obviously there’s a lot of reasons behind that. We were building the International Space Station, we were doing other missions. But for that to be a goal and just to see how that goal is basically the framework, the support to the next goal, the springboard to going to Mars, I think it’s extremely exciting,&#8221; Dobbs <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/podcasts/welcome-to-rocket-ranch/episode-21-nfl-quarterback-rocket-arm-and-mind/">said</a>.
Artemis II is expected to land April 10.

Credit: Stephen Maturen/Aubrey Gemignani/NASA/Getty Images

‘We’re Going Back’: Rocket Scientist QB Josh Dobbs Jokingly Spars With Congressman Over Moon Landing

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U.S.

Facing down leftist vitriol and activist-driven anger, a Tennessee library board voted to fire a library director who refused to follow a directive aimed at shielding kids browsing library shelves from transgender ideology. 
The Rutherford County Library board voted 8-3 on Monday to fire director Luanne James after she refused their direction to move transgender-themed books from the children’s section of the library to the adult section. Leftist activists showed up in force to the board meeting in Murfreesboro, a suburb of Nashville, where they repeatedly disrupted the meeting with yelling and screaming. 
The vote came after the board directed James to move books with transgender themes to the adult section of the library, where they could still be checked out by parents or by kids with parental approval. James refused to comply with the board, <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/11FG5BCECCya_Zj1K-XIHT9g16JDSMgOt/view">claiming</a> that moving the books to a different location in the library would violate the First Amendment. 
Books the board directed moved to the adult section included &#8220;The Gender Wheel,&#8221; &#8220;Who Are You? The Kids Guide to Gender Identity,&#8221; and &#8220;When Aidan Became A Brother&#8221; — a picture book about a gender-confused girl who started identifying as a boy.
&#8220;The law was made to protect the most vulnerable, which is children. Follow the law,&#8221; Rutherford County school board member Caleb Tidwell said during public comment at the meeting. &#8220;Protect the children. Hold the line.&#8221;
When given a chance to speak during the meeting, James said she would not change her mind. 
“I stand by my decision. I will not change my mind,” she said. In a later statement, she said she lost her job because she was fired for protecting &#8220;the rights of all community members to access books and information.&#8221;
&#8220;I refused to do so because I believe such action constitutes censorship, violates the First Amendment, and goes against my duty to uphold intellectual freedom under American Library Association guidelines,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Librarians should not be used as a filter for political agendas. I stood up for the right to read — standing for the citizens of Rutherford County. I believe my firing is an unlawful act of viewpoint discrimination. This action hurts library patrons, not just the librarian.&#8221;
Footage from the meeting revealed the crowd erupting in anger at the board&#8217;s decision to fire her. 
<iframe loading="lazy" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/poXqkA_MviU?si=n3hcQDTQV1HbRRFE&amp;clip=UgkxEBFbI_5utajAqHkMd2sYmzMoOA5Ag72R&amp;clipt=EPaCywEY1tfOAQ" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
After the vote, the crowd angrily yelled and gestured toward board members who voted to fire James. 
Footage captured by local news outlets showed how the balcony of the meeting room was filled with protesters wearing matching shirts and chanting. Leftist groups like the ACLU of Tennessee and the Rutherford County Library Alliance had organized support for James. 
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Rutherford County Library Board fires director over book dispute" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nUEmuEeSoAI?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Ultimately the board said they should be able to set library system policy.
&#8220;The Executive Director’s refusal to implement a lawful directive of the Rutherford County Library Board constitutes insubordination,&#8221; Board Chair Cody York said in the days leading up to the vote. &#8220;When a Director refuses to carry out a duly adopted Board decision, it undermines the governance of the institution and cannot be ignored.&#8221;
James said she was exploring all legal options after the firing while the library board has also retained a lawyer over the matter.
Advocates for moving the books argued that it was necessary to comply with state laws related to ensuring kids have access to age-appropriate materials and President Donald Trump’s executive actions on transgender ideology. 
Some media outlets have suggested books were directed to be moved because of themes related to “female empowerment” and “diversity and inclusion.” Those are references to notes put on lists of disputed books by library staff, not the board. 
Prior to the board’s directive to move the books related to transgender ideology, library staff at Rutherford County Library System compiled a list of over 2,000 books they had flagged for possible compliance with Tennessee law. Staffers flagged books about the Bible and Aesop’s Fables, among others, for review. 
This contrasted with books flagged by the board, which focused primarily on materials related to transgender ideology and graphic violence. 
The fight over books in Rutherford County has been ongoing for several years — and mirrors fights across the country — and pits concerned parents against left-wing activists for control of school and public libraries.
Last year, the Rutherford County Library board <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tennessee-town-faces-down-liberal-protests-votes-to-remove-books-promoting-transgenderism-to-kids">voted</a> to remove all books promoting transgenderism to children from its system as they passed a resolution to “remove material that promotes, encourages, advocates for or normalizes transgenderism or ‘gender confusion’ in minors.”
That effort was later withdrawn over fears of a lawsuit. The latest discussions involve only moving books, not removing them from the library system entirely. Several years ago, the board did <a href="https://wpln.org/post/rutherford-countys-library-system-bans-four-books-with-lgbtq-themes-after-a-murfreesboro-decency-ordinance/">direct</a> the complete removal of the book “Let’s Talk About It,” from the circulation. The book contains sexually explicit illustrations of sex and genitalia.

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Leftist Crowd Melts Down After Librarian Fired For Pushing Trans Agenda On Kids

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Kid Rock got to show some love to the troops when he got a surprising flyby from United States Army helicopters over the weekend.
In the video posted by Kid Rock on X, the American icon is seen at his home in the Nashville area saluting the choppers as they flew near his pool.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This is a level of respect that shit for brains Governor of California will never know. God Bless America and all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend her. 🇺🇸 🙏 <a href="https://t.co/iD5mmkaXv1">pic.twitter.com/iD5mmkaXv1</a>
— KidRock (@KidRock) <a href="https://twitter.com/KidRock/status/2037987671671292134?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2026</a></blockquote>
&#8220;This is a level of respect that sh*t for brains Governor of California will never know,&#8221; Kid Rock captioned the <a href="https://x.com/KidRock/status/2037987671671292134?s=20">video</a> he posted of the helicopters. &#8220;God Bless America and all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend her.”
The video has been viewed more than eight million times as of Monday, and it&#8217;s apparently sparking an &#8220;administrative review&#8221; into why the helicopters were hovering around Kid Rock&#8217;s compound.
“The Army is aware of a video circulating online that appears to show AH‑64 Apache helicopters operating in the vicinity of a private residence in the Nashville area,&#8221; Maj. Jonathon Bless, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Public Affairs Officer, told The Daily Wire. &#8220;Army aviators must adhere to strict safety standards, professionalism, and established flight regulations. An administrative review is underway to assess the mission and verify compliance with regulations and airspace requirements. Appropriate action will be taken if any violations are found.&#8221;
In a second video, Kid Rock posted footage of a helicopter facing him as he again cheered on the military personnel inside.
According to <a href="https://www.newschannel5.com/news/newschannel-5-investigates/u-s-army-opens-investigation-into-attack-helicopter-activities-at-kid-rocks-home-no-kings-protest">News Channel 5</a> in Nashville, the helicopters could have been flying over the No Kings protest happening in Nashville, though Maj. Bless added that the 101st Airborne leaders were unaware of any reason the choppers might have done a flyover of the protests, either.
&#8220;Our pilots do regularly fly routes outside the Fort Campbell area,&#8221; the spokesperson said. &#8220;We just don&#8217;t know if it was incidental or if it was deliberate.&#8221;
&#8220;How much did American taxpayers pay for this flyby of Kid Rock&#8217;s house?&#8221; one woman wrote on <a href="https://x.com/TheRealThelmaJ1/status/2038394135556850056?s=20">X</a>.
Kid Rock&#8217;s home is widely known as &#8220;The Southern White House&#8221; as the mansion is modeled after the White House in the nation&#8217;s capital.
The Daily Wire has reached out to Kid Rock for comment.

Credit: Kid Rock/Gary Miller via Getty Images

Kid Rock Sparks Military Review After Wild Stunt At ‘Southern White House’

Kid Rock

News

U.S. Military

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NASHVILLE—It was a humid night in June 2024 when Matt Carney encountered a pair of men rummaging through his truck.
Carney, who owned the popular chicken restaurant Smokin&#8217; Thighs, went to confront the men. As he did, they sped out of the parking lot, striking Carney and knocking him onto the street. As police hunted for the men behind the fatal hit-and-run, Carney succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.
Eventually, Nashville police arrested Ulises Martinez, first confirmed by The Daily Wire to be an illegal immigrant from Mexico, and charged him with murder over the incident. Martinez <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/illegal-immigrant-confesses-to-killing-nashville-man-in-hit-and-run" target="_blank" rel="noopener">admitted</a> to police that he was driving the car that fatally struck Carney, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement slapped a detainer on him.
Smokin&#8217; Thighs, which Carney built from the ground up, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/saying-goodbye-is-hard-nashville-restaurant-closes-doors-after-owner-killed-by-illegal-immigrant" target="_blank" rel="noopener">closed</a> a few short months after his death. Martinez has yet to face justice as his case <a href="https://sci.ccc.nashville.gov/Search/CriminalHistory?P_CASE_IDENTIFIER=ULISES%5EMARTINEZ%5E09131999%5E624024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">makes</a> its way through the Davidson County court system.
The case quickly made headlines as then-candidate Donald Trump talked about the incident as he warned about a “migrant crime wave.”
“Look at what’s happening to our cities. Our cities are being overrun,” Trump said. “On July 4th, a 42-year-old Nashville man died after he tried to stop an illegal alien from stealing tools out of his truck. The illegal alien did a number on this man that nobody could even believe. The police officers said one of the most vicious crimes they’ve ever seen.”
<div id="attachment_1062437" style="width: 1287px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1062437" class="size-full wp-image-1062437" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-19-at-10.41.02-AM.png" alt="" width="1277" height="692" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-19-at-10.41.02-AM.png 1277w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-19-at-10.41.02-AM-300x163.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-19-at-10.41.02-AM-1024x555.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-19-at-10.41.02-AM-768x416.png 768w" sizes=" (max-width: 1277px) 100vw, 1277px" />Martinez/Smokin Thighs.</div>
The case illustrated how illegal immigration can impact even deeply red states like Tennessee. While Joe Biden was in office, conservative states struggled to respond as the federal government released millions of illegal immigrants into the United States. With the Trump administration, some Republican lawmakers see a golden opportunity to crack down on illegal immigration.
<h4>‘Once In A Generation Opportunity’ </h4>
Since Trump’s return to the White House, states like California and Minnesota have made headlines for resisting the president’s immigration agenda. Republican leaders in Tennessee, spurred on by cases like Carney’s, want the Volunteer State to be different.
“We have what I refer to as kind of a once in a generation opportunity, given the Trump administration&#8217;s emphasis on removing illegal immigrants and mass deportation,” Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson told The Daily Wire.
“When we look at states like Michigan, New York, and California, others that are literally fighting the Trump administration on those efforts, we wanted to send a very clear message that we were not only going to cooperate, but do everything we could to help make them successful in their efforts in Tennessee,” he added.
Johnson, alongside other state Republican leaders like House Speaker Cameron Sexton and House Majority Leader William Lamberth, introduced an immigration package at the beginning of the 2026 legislative session focused on reducing illegal immigration.
The legislative package, crafted with input from White House officials, includes bills that would make illegal immigration a crime in Tennessee; mandate legal status for public employees and citizenship verification for those who receive public benefits; protect ICE agents from being doxed; and increase cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration officials.
Sexton says he had discussions with the White House after they began collaborating on a project to clean up crime in Memphis. He praised federal officials for their input on the legislative package and said they viewed Tennessee “as being the beacon of showing other states how to do something comprehensive and really transform your state.”
The White House said that it was happy to speak with all state lawmakers about how to fight illegal immigration.
“Illegal aliens should not be receiving federal welfare benefits while hardworking Americans foot the bill,” a White House official told The Daily Wire. “The President’s entire Intergovernmental Affairs team has been willing to speak with state legislators seeking advice on how to effectively enact the President’s agenda and protect the American people from fraud and abuse perpetrated by illegal aliens.”
<h4>A ‘Beacon’ To The Nation </h4>
Republican leaders are confident that most of the bills will make it across the finish line before the legislative session wraps up next month. The proposals are focused on increasing cooperation with the federal government and safeguarding taxpayer dollars.
One of the <a href="https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default?BillNumber=HB1710&amp;ga=114" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposals</a> making its way through the legislature would mandate that local governments verify legal residency before doling out benefits. It would also mandate reporting to ICE applicants whose citizenship couldn’t be verified. Under that bill, the Tennessee attorney general would be empowered to withhold shared tax revenue from entities that refuse to restrict public benefits.
“I want to help our people who are Tennessee citizens, who are here legally and lawfully, that need help and assistance,” Sexton told The Daily Wire, noting that reports show 20% of public housing is taken up by illegal immigrants. “That&#8217;s taken up space from someone who is here legally and lawfully in a Tennessee resident who&#8217;s homeless and on the streets, that&#8217;s a problem.”
Another <a href="https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default?BillNumber=HB1705&amp;ga=114" target="_blank" rel="noopener">key plank</a> of the package is making <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-the-law-that-would-make-companies-who-hire-illegal-aliens-feel-the-pain" target="_blank" rel="noopener">E-Verify</a> — a free platform from the Department of Homeland Security that employers use to authenticate the legal status of potential employees — mandatory for all state and local government employers, including schools. The proposals come as reports of illegal immigrants being hired as police officers throughout the country. Local entities that don’t implement E-Verify could lose out on shared sales tax revenue.
Some of the proposals are intended to assess the monetary cost of illegal immigration in the state, Sexton told The Daily Wire. He noted that the monetary costs of illegal immigration for the Volunteer State could be as high as $700 million.
One <a href="https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default?BillNumber=HB0793&amp;GA=114" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposal</a> from Lamberth would instruct schools to count how many illegal immigrants are in Tennessee schools. That would allow officials to determine how much taxpayers were paying to educate kids brought across the border illegally. Originally, the proposal would have required parents to pay tuition if they were illegally in the United States or disenroll their kids.
Other bills would increase the frequency of reporting for state agencies to increase tracking of illegal immigrants by both law enforcement and for the state finance report to produce a report on the cost of illegal immigration, drawing from places like schools, prisons, hospitals, and social services.
Another series of bills would require lawful status for nurses, teachers, contractors, and all licensed professions. One from Johnson and Rep. Jason Zachary <a href="https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default?BillNumber=HB1706&amp;ga=114" target="_blank" rel="noopener">would</a> make it a crime for a person illegally in the country to operate a commercial motor vehicle. Other components would make it a requirement to take the driver’s test in English and make it impossible for an illegal immigrant to register a vehicle with the state.
Sexton noted Republicans were also working on legislation to make sure reciprocal licenses are not issued to those from states where citizenship is not verified.
“If you come from a state that does not verify your legal status, then before you get the reciprocal license, you&#8217;re gonna have to show the state of Tennessee that you&#8217;re here legally and lawfully and if you can&#8217;t, then we&#8217;re not giving your license,” he said.
One bill sponsored by Johnson and Lamberth would make it a crime for someone with a final order of deportation to be in the state of Tennessee.
“If that deportation order has been issued for whatever reason and you&#8217;re out and about, but you set foot in Tennessee, we can arrest you and charge you,” Johnson told The Daily Wire, noting that the proposal was crafted to be in line with the Supreme Court on federal immigration enforcement.
Another <a href="https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Bill/SB1486.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposal</a> would further require local law enforcement to hold illegal immigrants arrested for ICE.
<h4>Cost To Tennesseans </h4>
Thanks to reporting requirements implemented by the legislature last year, district attorneys across the state must produce a report every year on the number of crimes illegal immigrants are arrested and charged with.
The <a href="https://www.tndagc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2025-PC998-Immigration-Report-Final-2.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> for 2025 found that there were 11,344 illegal immigrants charged or convicted of a crime during the year. The defendants came from 119 different countries and were charged with a total of 21,648 charges. The report identified  2,183 violent offenses, including 41 murders.
Those crimes are in the minds of lawmakers as they advance their immigration package.
Johnson believes that the immigration package from the General Assembly will “demonstrate to our constituents and to the Trump administration that we welcome your efforts to come in and get violent, illegal aliens out of our communities.”
He noted that presidents have vowed for years to secure the border, but he said Trump was the first one serious about doing it. He said Trump is “serious about it” and “we want to be a good partner with [him] and his administration.”
Sexton said that even one crime by an illegal against a Tennessean is unacceptable.
“You still had thousands of victims in Tennessee who became victims because of an illegal, who came into our country illegally, and they&#8217;re still here,” he said. “One victim by one illegal immigrant is one too many still, so I don&#8217;t care if it&#8217;s a 3% number, a 1% number, or a 10% number. Just one crime committed by an illegal against someone in Tennessee should not happen.”

MixCollage-27-Mar-2026-01-03-PM-3477

Red State Seizes ‘Once-in-a-Generation’ Chance To Crack Down On Illegal Immigration

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