Why It Matters
A longtime Tennessee congressman has announced he will not seek re-election following a Republican-led redistricting effort that divided his Memphis district three ways. The move reflects a broader wave of congressional retirements and redistricting battles playing out across the South.
What Happened
Rep. Steve Cohen announced Friday he will not run for re-election this fall after Tennessee lawmakers redrew congressional maps that carved up his Memphis-based district. Cohen, who has represented the 9th District for more than 19 years, said in a statement he would not seek a seat in any of the three newly created districts.
The Republican-controlled Tennessee Legislature and Governor Bill Lee enacted the new congressional map last week. The redistricting divides what had been Cohen’s majority-Black district into three separate districts.
Cohen said he would reconsider his decision if legal challenges to the new map succeed in court and the 9th District remains intact.
By the Numbers
Cohen’s retirement marks the 59th House member to announce they will not seek re-election during this cycle. That total represents the second-highest number of House retirements since 1930.
Cohen has served in Congress for more than 19 years representing the Memphis area.
Democrats have warned that roughly one-third of Congressional Black Caucus members could be affected by redistricting efforts in southern states.
Zoom Out
The Tennessee redistricting follows a Supreme Court decision in Callais v. Louisiana that limited the consideration of race in drawing congressional districts. The ruling has prompted lawmakers in several southern states to pursue new district maps that eliminate some majority-Black Democratic seats in favor of Republican-leaning districts.
Tennessee state Rep. Justin Pearson, who gained national attention as part of the Tennessee Three group expelled from the state House in 2023 for protesting gun violence, had already announced a primary challenge to Cohen and has not withdrawn from the race.
What’s Next
Legal challenges to Tennessee’s new congressional map are expected to proceed. Cohen said he would return to the race if courts rule in favor of preserving the 9th District in its current form. The primary election will move forward with Pearson as a candidate regardless of the map’s status.