John Rose

General complacency about congressional districts and government representation shows that Americans are "probably not that unhappy with the way things are," Rep. John Rose, R-Tenn., told Newsmax on Monday.

Appearing on Newsmax's "Wake Up America Early," Rose defended Tennessee's latest congressional redistricting map amid criticism from Democrats and leftist activists who claim the changes weaken Black voter influence in the Memphis area.

Rose argued the new maps more accurately reflect Tennessee's political makeup and noted that Democrats used similar tactics when they controlled the redistricting process years ago.

"If you look at maps through the years, it's not been that long ago since Democrats controlled the districting process in Tennessee," Rose told host Alex Kraemer.

"The last map that they made, which was not that many years ago, looks a whole lot like this map in terms of the way that the districts are structured across the state."

Rose pointed specifically to Shelby County, home to Memphis, which he said had previously been divided into three congressional districts under Democrat-drawn maps as well.

"So I think they protest a little too much," he added.

Kraemer asked Rose whether partisan gerrymandering undermines voter confidence in elections, but the congressman suggested the larger issue is voter disengagement.

"A lot of people don't pay close attention to this," Rose said. "As I travel across the state, many people don't know which district they're in. And that's not a function of redistricting."

Rose said Americans have a responsibility to stay informed about their elected representatives at the state and federal levels.

"In a democracy, we need an informed electorate," he said. "It is the responsibility of each individual to keep abreast of those things and know who their representatives are."

The Tennessee Republican also pointed to recent legal battles in Virginia over congressional maps that critics said would heavily favor Democrats.

Last week, the Virginia Supreme Court struck down a voter-approved redistricting plan that could have given Democrats a 10-1 advantage in the state's congressional delegation.

The court ruled lawmakers failed to follow constitutional procedures when advancing the proposal.

Rose said the Virginia case demonstrates that Democrats engage in the same redistricting practices they often accuse Republicans of using.

"Democrat-run states are doing exactly the same thing," Rose said. "This is not a problem somehow unique to Republicans."

He also pointed to heavily Democrat-controlled New England states that elect few or no Republicans despite sizable GOP voter populations.

"Republicans are just getting into the game in a way that they've learned from their Democratic brethren," Rose said.

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