SouthernWorldwide.com – U.S. Representative Steve Cohen, a longtime Democratic lawmaker from Tennessee, has officially declared his intention to withdraw from the upcoming re-election bid for Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District.
The congressman announced on Friday that he has submitted the necessary documentation to be removed from the ballot. This decision comes in the wake of recent redistricting efforts in the state.
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Cohen expressed his strong dissatisfaction with the newly drawn district lines. He stated that the redrawn 9th Congressional District bears no resemblance to the constituency he has diligently represented for years.
The primary election for the Democratic party in this district is slated to occur in August. The recent approval of redistricting by the state last week has set the stage for these changes.
According to a press release issued by the Tennessee Secretary of State’s office, candidates who had already qualified for the 2026 congressional elections have the option to run in the newly designated district that retains the same district number. Furthermore, candidates seeking to change their district or withdraw their candidacy are permitted to do so by submitting a notarized statement to the State Division of Elections.
A separate press release from Representative Cohen’s office detailed the rationale behind his decision. It highlighted that his former district, which had a majority-Black population, was allegedly gerrymandered into three districts with a Republican lean by the state General Assembly in the preceding week.
This move marks the end of Cohen’s nearly two-decade-long tenure in Congress. He first assumed office in early 2007, serving for over 19 years.
Following his announcement on Friday, Cohen did not shy away from voicing his strong criticisms of former President Donald Trump. He characterized the former president as posing the most significant danger to democracy, decorum, and grace that the nation has ever encountered.
