House

Cohen gets candid on retirement after redistricting loss: ‘I’ve got a great district’

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by Sarah Davis - 05/16/26 10:56 AM ET

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by Sarah Davis - 05/16/26 10:56 AM ET

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Tennessee Rep. Steve Cohen (D) gave an emotional tribute to his district after he announced his retirement from Congress on Friday.

The 76-year-old lawmaker teared up during an interview with The Hill’s broadcast partner, NewsNation, when speaking about his decision to step down after nearly two decades in the legislature.

“I’ve got a great district,” he told host Chris Cuomo. “Wonderful people, they’ve supported me so well.

“You know 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,” he continued. “Because they have no perspective of caring about African Americans and people getting together and anything nice that happens. It’s a tough sport, and they play it tough.”

The lawmaker shared the news of his retirement plans after Tennessee’s state legislature pushed through a mid-decade redistricting measure that carved up the lone Democrat’s 9th Congressional District, which has a majority-Black population.

The new Tennessee lines are the latest in a widespread battle between Democrats and Republicans to redraw congressional maps ahead of the midterm elections this November.

The White House has championed Republican-led redistricting efforts, with President Trump urging Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) to push the state’s new map through.

“This is the most criminal behavior we’ve ever seen in the White House,” Cohen told NewsNation. “I think 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.

“I mean, with crypto, with investing with the Middle East, with the Saudis, the man is a walking crime,” he continued. “He looks at the White House as his business, and the government’s his business. And he doesn’t accept any checks and balances.”

Cohen entered Congress in 2007, after serving in the Tennessee state Senate for 24 years.

“After 19 years serving the 9th District, I made the decision to not run in the new gerrymandered districts created from it,” he said in his Friday announcement.

“If the courts restore the current 9th until 2028, I’ll remain a candidate, though that’s unlikely,” he continued. “Representing Memphis for 47 years has been the honor of my lifetime.”

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