A referendum on Oregon's primary ballot seeking to repeal a Democratic gas tax increase is complicating the affordability message  central to the party's midterm election strategy. The Democratic-controlled Legislature raised the state gas tax and other fees last fall as a way to pay for roads and plug a hole in the state’s transportation budget. Republicans responded with a petition to repeal the increases. That's leading to a referendum that will land before voters just as the Iran war is causing the price of gas to skyrocket around the country. Republicans say the tax increase will further fuel the high cost of living.

A new congressional map in Tennessee splits the majority-Black city of Memphis into three districts. The move by the Republican-controlled legislature follows a recent Supreme Court ruling that weakened parts of the landmark Voting Rights Act. And it may serve as an early example of how states may eliminate long-required majority-minority districts before the November elections. Republican-led states across the South are now taking steps to eliminate majority-Black districts. Memphis residents are concerned about being divided into new districts that include communities hundreds of miles away from their neighbors and about what it may mean for their representation in national politics.

The congressional map appears to be tilting more red amid the latest flurry of redistricting developments across the U.S. Virginia's supreme court this week rejected a new districting plan on procedural grounds. It could have helped Democrats pick up as many as four more seats. Other Southern states are moving to erase majority-Black districts as a result of a recent Supreme Court decision. Tennessee this week became the first of those to adopt a new map. With mid-decade redistricting to date, the GOP has created 14 more districts party leaders believe they can win and Democrats have added six.

Alabama lawmakers have approved a plan for new U.S. House primaries if courts allow the state to use different congressional districts in this year’s elections. Republican Gov. Kay Ivey signed the measure into law Friday shortly after the legislature approved it. The action came on the same day that the Virginia Supreme Court dealt a major setback to Democrats by overturning a redistricting plan that could have helped Democrats win as many as four additional House seats. The Alabama law could set aside the results of the May 19 primaries, if courts lift an injunction requiring it to use a map with two districts that have large Black populations.

The Virginia Supreme Court has struck down a Democratic congressional redistricting plan that had won voter approval. The court’s 4-3 decision Friday marked a major setback for Democrats in a nationwide redistricting battle with Republicans ahead of the midterm elections. The plan approved on April 21 by voters could have helped Democrats win up to four additional U.S. House seats. But the court said state lawmakers violated procedural requirements when referring the plan to the ballot. Friday’s ruling, combined with a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that severely weakened the Voting Rights Act, has supercharged Republicans’ advantage in congressional gerrymandering heading into this year’s midterm elections.

Tennessee has enacted a new U.S. House map that carves up a majority-Black district in Memphis. The new voting districts signed into law Thursday by Republican Gov. Bill Lee gives the GOP a chance to win all nine of the state’s congressional seats in the November midterm elections. Tennessee is the first state to adopt new districts since a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last week that undermined a key provision of the Voting Rights Act. President Donald Trump has urged more Republican-led states to redraw their districts in light of the court ruling. Louisiana, Alabama and South Carolina also have taken steps toward redistricting.