Longtime Tennessee Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen has ended his reelection bid just days after Tennessee passed its new Congressional map.
Cohen represented District 9 for 19 years.
The new map carves the Memphis district into three districts.
Cohen told the media from his congressional office:
This morning I announced my decision not to run in any of the three gerrymandered congressional districts carved out of the 9th District I have represented for more than 19 years. Last week, Tennessee Republicans silenced the Black vote here in Memphis to make Republican victories likely. We are still fighting, and if we prevail in the courts and the 9th District remains intact, I will remain a candidate and will proud to represent you for another two years. If not, it has been the honor of my life serving you, and you can count on my representation until my final day in office and beyond.”
Cohen and the Tennessee Democratic Party have sued over the new map, arguing “that changing the congressional maps months before a primary will cause chaos for voters ahead of 2026.”
If the Democrats succeed with the lawsuit and restore his district, Cohen said he would jump back into the race.
A judge will hold a hearing on May 20 and decide if the plaintiffs qualify for a temporary restraining order.
The ACLU also filed a lawsuit, claiming the new map violates the 14th and 15th Amendments and “that it’s an act of retaliation for protected expression and association in violation of the First Amendment.”
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