Rep. Steve Cohen, Tennessee’s lone Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives, said Friday morning he will not seek reelection in the newly drawn 9th Congressional District.
If courts keep the 9th intact through any of at least four lawsuits, he said he would seek to retain his seat.
Cohen, who turns 77 on Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, said he would otherwise retire from public life. He served 24 years in the state Senate prior to the 10 terms in Washington representing the Memphis area.
Multiple litigations – one with Cohen's name on it – have been filed in response to the Legislature’s new map signed into law last week by second-term Republican Gov. Bill Lee. A judge Thursday sided with the state, keeping the August elections on track with new deadlines.
