Steve Cohen Tennessee General Assembly U.S. House of Representatives

Democratic Representative Steve Cohen of Tennessee announced on Friday that he will not seek re-election after his term expires, following the state legislature’s decision to redraw his congressional district.

The newly approved map dismantles Tennessee’s 9th congressional district, which currently covers most of Memphis and its inner suburbs. The redistricting splits the predominantly Black and Democratic voting base into several rural districts expected to favor Republicans.

“This is by far the most difficult moment I’ve had as an elected official,” Cohen said during a press conference at his office.

The new map creates three alternative districts in the Memphis area, none of which include the city proper. Cohen, first elected to the House in 2006, has consistently won re-election and is the first Jewish person to represent Tennessee.

Critics have argued that the majority-Black district should be represented by a person of color. Tennessee state Representative Justin Pearson had planned to challenge Cohen before the redistricting took effect.

“I have an opponent who’s verbally facile, and can jump around and dance, and things like that, and if somebody thinks that’s who they wanted, that’s who they can have, because I can’t,” Cohen said of Pearson. “I don’t dance anymore, jump around, but I think I was gonna win that race.”

The Tennessee legislature passed the new maps last week, securing all nine of the state’s House seats for Republicans and eliminating its lone Democratic district. Pearson will now run in the newly redrawn 9th district.

Source: The New Republic
Rep. Virginia Foxx Attacks 10-Year-Old Over Electric Car Tax Credit Support
← Previous

Rep. Virginia Foxx Attacks 10-Year-Old Over Electric Car Tax Credit Su...

 ArXiv Implements Strict Penalties for AI-Generated Academic Slop, Bans Authors for One Year
Next →

ArXiv Implements Strict Penalties for AI-Generated Academic Slop, Bans...