Washington — In a significant political development, Democratic Representative Steve Cohen from Tennessee announced on Friday that he would not seek reelection for the state’s ninth congressional district. Cohen has held this seat since 2007.
The decision follows recent redistricting by the Tennessee legislature, which has notably altered the boundaries of his Memphis-based district. At 76, Cohen stands as Tennessee’s sole Democrat in Congress.
“This is undoubtedly the most challenging moment I’ve faced during my tenure as an elected official,” Cohen remarked as he began his address.
A fourth-generation resident of Memphis, Cohen revealed that he is stepping away from public service to retire.
While he contemplated running in one of the newly drawn districts, Cohen ultimately decided against it, stating that these districts bear little resemblance to the ninth district he has long represented.
“It has been a tremendous honor to serve the ninth district for nearly two decades. It is a district predominantly comprising African-American residents,” Cohen expressed.
The redistricting vote by the GOP-dominated state legislature last week drew protests for splitting the Memphis population into parts of several different districts that lean more Republican.
In his time in Congress, Cohen has served on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the House Judiciary Committee and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, focusing on issues like civil rights and policing reform.
“The first Jewish person elected to represent Tennessee in the Congress, Steve has been a powerful champion for civil rights, leading passage of a resolution issuing the first formal apology for slavery in the U.S.,” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement. He noted that Cohen led hearings on the Voting Rights Act, police reform and racial justice, “reaffirming his commitment to making true America’s promise of equality and justice for all.”
“The city of Memphis, the Congress and the nation are better because of Steve’s commitment to making a difference,” Jeffries said.
