Rep. Steve Cohen pauses while talking during a press conference inside his office on Capitol Hill, May 15, 2026 in Washington.Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Representative Steve Cohen, a veteran Tennessee Democrat, declared Friday he will not seek another term and will instead step down when his current term concludes, following the redrawing of his Memphis constituency during the state legislature’s reapportionment process.
"This stands as the most emotionally challenging moment I've faced as an elected official," Cohen expressed, his voice thick with emotion, as he revealed that he had dispatched a letter to the state capital that Friday requesting his name be removed from the ballot.
"I have no desire to give up. I am not one to surrender, but these districts were specifically designed to unseat me. They were structured with the intention of causing my defeat," Cohen stated.
Cohen is the inaugural Democratic representative choosing to retire following the Supreme Court's ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, which determined that racially motivated redistricting under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 violates the Constitution.
In the wake of the verdict, Tennessee’s state lawmakers approved a fresh congressional map which could potentially allow Republicans to take control of the state’s singular seat held by a Democrat.
Cohen's majority-minority constituency, the 9th congressional district of Tennessee, is undergoing division into three segments. Cohen has initiated legal action against the new map in court, as have multiple civil rights advocacy organizations.
Rep. Steve Cohen pauses while speaking during a news conference in his office on Capitol Hill, May 15, 2026 in Washington.Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
"Devastated," Representative Bennie Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat whose district borders Cohen's, remarked to ABC News regarding the Tennessee constituency.
"He has been representing a district predominantly composed of minorities, despite being a white individual. He has performed commendably. He has consistently cast votes that reflect the interests of his constituents, and unexpectedly, the court decides to revoke that opportunity," Thompson commented regarding Cohen. "But even worse, the Tennessee legislature has divided Memphis into three separate portions. Therefore, as far as the Congress is concerned, Memphis no longer possesses a true sense of community interest, due to its profound division."
Cohen becomes the 22nd House Democrat choosing not to vie for reelection to the House during this midterm election cycle.
"Memphis is my cherished home, and that is what I advocate for, and I aspire to continue doing so. If provided the opportunity, I will pursue it, but otherwise, I will be concluding my tenure in Congress, and subsequently, I presume, from public service altogether," Cohen conveyed.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com