Veteran Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen announced Friday that he will not seek reelection in 2026, bringing an end to a nearly 20-year run in Congress as Tennessee Republicans aggressively reshape the state’s political map ahead of the midterms.
Cohen, who has represented Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District since 2007, confirmed his retirement just days after state lawmakers approved a new congressional map that dramatically redraws Memphis-area districts.
The longtime Memphis lawmaker had openly blasted the redistricting effort and hinted he was weighing legal action before ultimately deciding against another campaign.
“The state legislature is trying to take it over,” Cohen said earlier this week. “And that’s absurd. It was all partially because it’s a majority Black city.”
Republicans defended the map as a legitimate mid-decade redraw that better reflects population shifts and political changes across Tennessee. Democrats, meanwhile, argued the plan weakens their influence in Memphis, one of the few remaining blue strongholds in the state.
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Cohen’s retirement instantly opens the door to a chaotic Democratic primary in Memphis, where several ambitious local and state officials are already maneuvering for position. State Rep. Justin Pearson had previously launched a challenge against Cohen before the redistricting battle intensified.
The outgoing congressman became one of the South’s most recognizable progressive Democrats during the Trump years, frequently appearing on cable news and emerging as a vocal critic of the administration on issues ranging from impeachment to immigration.
Before serving in Congress, Cohen spent more than two decades in the Tennessee Senate and built a reputation as one of Memphis’ most influential political figures.
His exit also gives Tennessee Republicans another opportunity to tighten their grip on the state’s congressional delegation. GOP lawmakers have made little secret of their broader goal to expand Republican advantages in future federal elections.
The redistricting fight is already heading to court, with left-wing activist groups and civil rights organizations preparing legal challenges over the new district lines.
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