Full Breakdown
Rep. Steve Cohen Retires Amid Tennessee Redistricting That Dismantles Majority-Black Memphis District
5/16/2026, 12:13:46 AM
Cohen Ends Run After Tennessee Redistricting
On May 6, 2026, Democrat Rep. Steve Cohen announced he will not seek re-election after the Tennessee legislature and Gov. Bill Lee approved a map that divides his Memphis-based, majority-Black 9th District into three districts. Cohen said the lines “are nothing like the 9th District that I’ve represented” and withdrew his candidacy.
Legal Context
The map was adopted weeks after the Supreme Court’s *Callais v. Louisiana* decision, which stripped protections of the 1965 Voting Rights Act and limited racial considerations in district drawing. The ruling has spurred similar redistricting moves across the South.
Map Changes and Impact
The plan splits Shelby County, scattering about 31 % of Black voters across three districts that stretch from Memphis to Williamson County. One district reaches the Kentucky border, another the Mississippi border. The Cook Political Report re-rated the 9th District from solidly Democratic to solidly Republican.
Political Impact
Democratic leaders warn the redistricting could erase one-third of the Congressional Black Caucus seats. If the map holds, Tennessee would shift from a Democratic representative to an all-Republican House delegation, curtailing Black voting power and affecting the 2026 partisan balance.
Official Statements
Gov. Bill Lee called the map “fair and constitutional,” emphasizing state authority. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries praised Cohen as a “powerful champion” of civil-rights legislation and condemned the “blatant power grab” threatening minority representation. The Cook Political Report noted the shift to a Republican outlook for the 9th District.
Criticism and Public Reaction
Democrats and voting-rights groups say the plan “silences the Black vote” and breaches the Voting Rights Act’s spirit. Lawsuits allege racial discrimination and inadequate notice. Protesters gathered at Capitol; Republican John Gillespie and Mark White voted “no.” Critics called the map a “blatant, corrupt power grab” that severs Memphis from distant counties.
Conflicting Reports
Sources differ on the share of Black voters affected: one cites 31 % scattered across three districts, another emphasizes the division of the majority-Black district into three “gerrymandered” districts without a precise figure. Outlets link the redistricting to President Trump’s strategic aims; others omit his role.
Verbatim Quotes
- “But these districts were drawn to defeat me.” — Steve Cohen, Rep.
- “Last week Tennessee Republicans silenced the Black vote here in Memphis to make Republican victories likely,” — Steve Cohen, Rep.
- “I don’t want to quit.” — Steve Cohen, Rep.
- “I’m not a quitter.” — Steve Cohen, Rep.
What’s Next
Cohen’s lawsuit proceeds in court, with a ruling expected before the November primaries. He says he will re-enter the race if a court restores the pre-redistricting map; otherwise, the new districts will shape Tennessee’s 2026 congressional contests.
