Democratic Representative Steve Cohen of Tennessee announced on Friday that he is ending his re-election campaign, his political career disrupted by redistricting battles sweeping the nation following a recent Supreme Court decision. Republicans in Tennessee enacted a new US House map that divides Cohen's majority-Black district, reshaping it to benefit the GOP as part of Donald Trump's strategy to maintain a slim majority in the November midterm elections.
Cohen's Decision and Legal Challenge
“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. He is challenging the state’s redistricting in court and stated he would re-enter the race if the lawsuit restores his old congressional district. Cohen lamented that Tennessee would likely shift to an entirely Republican congressional delegation after the next election, warning it could leave the state out of the loop when Democrats regain the White House.
Redistricting Targets Cohen's District
Tennessee was the first state to pass new congressional districts after a US Supreme Court ruling weakened federal Voting Rights Act protections for minorities. Other southern states, including Louisiana, Alabama, and South Carolina, have also taken steps toward redistricting. Cohen has represented his Memphis-based district for about two decades, one of the last white Democrats representing the South. He has served on the House Judiciary Committee and focused on voting access and civil rights.
“It’s 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,” said Cohen, the first Jewish person to represent Tennessee in Congress. He faced a primary challenge from state lawmaker Justin Pearson, a Black Democrat from Memphis, who plans to continue his campaign in the newly redrawn ninth congressional district.
Impact on Tennessee Democrats
Cohen predicted it would be nearly impossible for Tennessee Democrats to win a congressional seat with the new districts. He noted a chance the redistricting could “backfire on the Republicans” but only with an “unbelievable registration effort among Democrats” and massive voter turnout. Sitting in his office, Cohen pointed to photos of Memphis and local projects he championed, expressing concern that Memphis voters would lose their voice in Washington. He recounted working with Republican leaders to secure funding for a larger bridge over the Mississippi River.
Cohen Vows to Oppose Trump
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries praised Cohen as “a powerful champion for civil rights,” stating that “the City of Memphis, the Congress and the nation are better because of Steve’s commitment to making a difference.” Cohen said the Republican redistricting was done “for Donald Trump to get one more vote, he thinks, to stop them from being impeached.” He 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.”
Cohen is known for colorful outbursts during debates. In 2019, he brought fried chicken to a House Judiciary Committee hearing when Attorney General William Barr was absent. “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.
