Rep. Steve Cohen Ends Campaign After Republicans Split Memphis District
Democratic congressman who represented Memphis for 19 years withdraws from reelection race after GOP splits his district into three parts.
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE — Democratic U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen announced Friday he will not seek reelection in any of the three newly drawn districts that now include Memphis, ending his congressional campaign after Tennessee’s Republican supermajority split up the region he has represented for more than 19 years.
Cohen’s decision comes one week after the Tennessee Legislature passed a new congressional map that divides what was previously District 9, a majority-Black, majority-Democrat district centered in Memphis.
“Last week, Tennessee Republicans silenced the Black vote here in Memphis to make Republican victories likely,” Cohen wrote in a statement Friday. “We are still fighting, and if we prevail in the courts and the 9th District remains intact, I will remain a candidate and will be proud to represent you for another two years.”
Court Challenge Continues
Cohen is a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit challenging the new district map, arguing that allowing it to remain in effect for the 2026 U.S. House election will cause chaos and confusion for voters. U.S. District Court Judge William Campbell, a President Donald Trump appointee, denied a temporary restraining order in the case on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters in his Washington D.C. office on Friday, Cohen said he is “not a quitter” and did not want to quit, “but these districts were drawn to beat me,” according to The Associated Press.
Special Session Creates New Map
The Tennessee General Assembly’s Republican supermajority passed the new district map last week during a whirlwind special legislative session called by Governor Bill Lee at Trump’s instruction. The redistricting effort followed a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that significantly weakened the federal Voting Rights Act.
Under the new map, Memphis is divided among three congressional districts, potentially eliminating the city’s ability to elect a representative of its choice. The previous District 9 had been a Democratic stronghold that allowed Memphis voters to maintain unified representation in Congress.
Political Impact
Cohen’s departure represents a significant shift in Tennessee’s congressional delegation. He has served the Memphis area since 2007, becoming a prominent voice for the city’s interests in Washington and a frequent critic of Republican policies.
The redistricting effort appears designed to create a potential 9-0 Republican congressional delegation from Tennessee, according to political observers. The new districts would make it significantly more difficult for Democratic candidates to win any of the state’s nine House seats.
Democratic candidates and voters filed the federal challenge arguing the new map violates constitutional protections and civil rights laws. The lawsuit seeks to prevent the new districts from being used in the 2026 elections while legal challenges proceed through the courts.
Cohen indicated he remains hopeful that legal action could restore the original district boundaries, stating his willingness to continue his congressional service if the courts rule in favor of maintaining District 9’s current configuration.
