Longtime Democratic Rep Steve Cohen announces end to re-election bid

Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee announced on Friday that he signed a document requesting not to be included on the ballot in Tennessee's 9th Congressional District.

The congressman described the district determined by "new lines" as "nothing like the 9th district that I've represented."

The Democratic primary in the district is scheduled to take place in August.

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Redistricting was approved in the state last week.

A press release from the Tennessee Secretary of State website states, "Candidates who previously qualified for 2026 congressional elections may run in the new district that has the same district number. Candidates who wish to change districts or withdraw may do so by filing a notarized statement with the State Division of Elections, attention Coordinator of Elections." 

Cohen's office says the lawmaker's "majority-Black district was gerrymandered into three Republican-leaning districts by the state General Assembly last week."

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Cohen is ending his re-election bid after more than 19 years in Congress - he took office in early 2007.

Speaking after his announcement on Friday, Cohen slammed President Donald Trump, describing the president as "the greatest threat to democracy," "decorum," as well as to "grace, that we've ever seen."

Cohen stated that he would not seek reelection in any of the three newly gerrymandered districts that now divide Memphis. He tied his departure to the current map and left the door open to return if that map is overturned.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House.