In an emotional interview Friday, Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) announced he will not seek reelection after Tennessee Republicans redrew his Memphis-based district, effectively dismantling the only Democratic seat in the state's congressional delegation. The 76-year-old, who has served 19 years in the House, broke down while reflecting on the community that supported him for two decades.
“I’ve got a great district,” Cohen told NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo, his voice cracking. “Wonderful people, they’ve supported me so well.” He highlighted the significance of representing a majority-Black district as a white lawmaker: “It’s an amazing thing that an African American community supported me for 20 years like they did, and the Republicans don’t see it and they just tear it apart.”
Cohen’s retirement comes after the Tennessee legislature passed a mid-decade redistricting plan that split the 9th District, which has the state’s highest concentration of Black voters. The move is part of a broader Republican push to solidify gains ahead of the midterms, with the GOP leveraging redistricting to shore up vulnerable seats. The White House has backed these efforts, with President Trump urging Governor Bill Lee to approve the map.
Cohen did not mince words about the administration’s role. “This is the most criminal behavior we’ve ever seen in the White House,” he said. “If you take all the criminal behavior before in the history of presidents, it doesn’t equal what Donald Trump has done just in this term.” He cited Trump’s handling of cryptocurrency, Middle East investments, and Saudi ties as examples, calling the president “a walking crime” who treats the government as his personal business.
The lawmaker, who entered Congress in 2007 after 24 years in the Tennessee state Senate, said in a statement that he would only remain a candidate if courts restore the current district lines until 2028—an outcome he called unlikely. “Representing Memphis for 47 years has been the honor of my lifetime,” he added.
Cohen’s departure underscores the high stakes of the redistricting battles unfolding across the country. The NAACP has already filed a lawsuit challenging Tennessee’s map, arguing it dilutes Black voting power. Similar fights are ongoing in states like Texas and South Carolina, where courts have blocked or upheld GOP-drawn maps.
“This is the most criminal behavior we’ve ever seen in the White House,” Cohen repeated, linking the gerrymander to a broader assault on democratic norms. His exit leaves Democrats with an uphill climb to hold the seat in a state that has grown increasingly red.
