• Rep. Steve Cohen announces he will not seek reelection after redistricting.
• The district transformation, enacted by Republicans, threatens majority-Black representation.
• Cohen has served nearly 20 years and focused on civil rights and voting access.

Democratic Representative Steve Cohen of Tennessee has decided to end his bid for reelection due to significant changes in his congressional district, which has been redrawn in a manner that he perceives as detrimental to his electoral chances. The newly enacted Republican map divides Memphis into three districts that lean Republican, complicating Cohen's representation of a majority-Black district he has served since 2007, according to CBS News, Los Angeles Times, and Reuters.

Following the U.S. Supreme Court decision that weakened federal Voting Rights Act protections, Cohen stated, “I don’t want to quit. I’m not a quitter. But these districts were drawn to beat me.” He further emphasized the potential ramifications of this redistricting effort on Memphis, indicating that it could lead to the entire congressional delegation from Tennessee becoming Republican after the next elections, according to Los Angeles Times and Reuters.

Cohen, who has served on major committees such as the House Judiciary Committee and has focused on civil rights, lamented that the redistricting could result in Memphis voters losing their voice in Washington. He had considered running in one of the new districts but ultimately decided against it, citing the changes as significant and unreflective of the district he has represented, as noted by CBS News and Los Angeles Times.