Democratic Representative Steve Cohen of Tennessee announced on Friday that he is ending his bid for re-election, his career upended by the redistricting battles sweeping the country after last month's Supreme Court decision. Republicans in Tennessee enacted a new US House map that carves up Cohen's majority-Black district, reshaping it to the GOP's advantage as part of Donald Trump's strategy to hold a slim majority in the November midterm elections.
A Career Defined by Redistricting
Cohen, who has represented his Memphis-based district for about two decades, is among the last white Democrats representing the South. He has been a longtime member of the House Judiciary Committee and focused on strengthening voting access and civil rights. "I don't want to quit. I'm not a quitter. But these districts were drawn to beat me," Cohen told reporters in his Washington DC office.
Cohen is challenging the state's redistricting effort in court and said he would re-enter the race if the lawsuit succeeds in restoring his old congressional district. He lamented that Tennessee would probably shift to an entirely Republican congressional delegation after the next election, warning it could leave the state out of the loop once Democrats regain the White House.
Redistricting and the Voting Rights Act
Tennessee was the first state to pass new congressional districts after a Supreme Court ruling that significantly weakened federal Voting Rights Act protections for minorities. More southern states could follow, with Republicans in Louisiana, Alabama, and South Carolina also taking steps toward redistricting. Cohen said the effort was done "for Donald Trump to get one more vote, he thinks, to stop them from being impeached."
Cohen faced a primary challenge from state lawmaker Justin Pearson, a Black Democrat who represents Memphis in the state's general assembly. Pearson said he will continue his campaign in the newly redrawn ninth congressional district. However, Cohen predicted it would be nearly impossible for Tennessee Democrats to win a seat in Congress with the new districts, adding that a Democratic victory would require an "unbelievable registration effort" and massive turnout.
A Legacy of Civil Rights and Colorful Moments
Cohen, the first Jewish person to represent Tennessee in Congress, noted it is "unique in America that an African American majority district has elected a white guy, and that we've got a great relationship, great amount of support." House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries called Cohen "a powerful champion for civil rights" and said the city of Memphis, Congress, and the nation are better because of his commitment.
Cohen vowed to use his remaining time in Congress to oppose Trump, calling the president "the greatest threat to democracy and to decorum and grace that we've ever seen." Known for colorful outbursts, Cohen once brought a bucket of fried chicken to a House Judiciary Committee hearing when Attorney General William Barr was a no-show. "The message is Attorney General Bill Barr is not brave enough to answer questions from a staff attorney and members of the Judiciary Committee," he said at the time.
Sitting in his congressional office with staff looking on, Cohen pointed to photos of Memphis and local projects he championed, expressing worry that Memphis voters would no longer have a voice in Washington. He recounted working with Republican leaders to secure funding for a larger bridge over the Mississippi River into Memphis.
