Rep. Steve Cohen to retire

Longtime Tennessee Democrat Steve Cohen has announced he will not seek re-election after his Memphis-based district was redrawn by Republicans.

Cohen, who has served ten terms, described the decision as difficult and linked it to the impact of recent redistricting battles.

The new map, enacted after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, split the majority-Black Shelby County into three Republican-leaning districts.

Cohen is the first major casualty of the mid-decade redistricting campaign that is reshaping the political landscape in several Southern states.

His retirement opens the door for potential new leadership in the region as both parties prepare for a competitive midterm cycle.