Dear Friend, This morning I made public my decision not to run in any of the three gerrymandered congressional districts carved out of the 9th District I have represented for more than 19 years. The state General Assembly last week diluted the Black vote in thirds to make Republican victories likely. Cases are pending that could restore the 9th District to its current contours until 2028 and, if we prevail, I will remain a candidate in the 9th, but that appears unlikely. It has been the honor of a lifetime to represent the people of Memphis in my 47 years of public service, first at the state Constitutional Convention and on the Shelby County Commission, then 24 years in the state Senate and now more than 19 years in Congress. There’s no reason to be modest: No other politician has done more for the city and region – from my decisive vote to create the Regional Medical Center at Memphis (now Regional One), to the state lottery and Hope scholarships that have helped tens of thousands get a college education, to persuading the U.S. Department of Transportation to invest more than $393 million to replace the Interstate 55 bridge, the largest infrastructure investment in the state’s history. At the national level, I was Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties when we held hearings to strengthen the Voting Rights Act that the Supreme Court has now destroyed. I was the first to introduce complete Articles of Impeachment against Donald Trump. The Center for Effective Lawmaking, a project of the University of Virginia and Vanderbilt University, named me the fifth most effective legislator in the 118th Congress in its assessment last year. If we prevail in the courts and the 9th District remains intact for the 2026 mid-term election, I will remain a candidate and will be proud to represent its people for another two years. If not, it has been an honor serving you. After my announcement, congressional colleagues and friends wished me well. I appreciated a statement from House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries: “Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries issued the following statement after Congressman Steve Cohen announced he would not seek another term in the House of Representatives: “Congressman Steve Cohen’s life has been defined by the work he has done on a local, state and national level on behalf of the people he has been privileged to represent for decades. After contracting polio at just five years old, Steve developed a unique persistence and determination that would accompany him throughout his career in public service. A proud son of Memphis, Steve served on the Shelby County Commission and later in the State Senate for 24 years.
“Over nearly two decades in the House of Representatives, Steve has consistently stood up for the health, safety and economic well-being of children and families, fighting to lower costs, improve the quality and affordability of higher education, strengthen our transportation infrastructure and increase access to healthcare. The first Jewish person elected to represent Tennessee in the Congress, Steve has been a powerful champion for civil rights, leading passage of a resolution issuing the first formal apology for slavery in the U.S. As the Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Steve led hearings on the Voting Rights Act, police reform and racial justice, reaffirming his commitment to making true America’s promise of equality and justice for all.
“The City of Memphis, the Congress and the nation are better because of Steve’s commitment to making a difference. He will be deeply missed by the House Democratic Caucus family in the next Congress, and we all wish him the very best in this next chapter.” # # # I’ll be your Congressman until January so, in that respect, nothing will change, and I will keep working for you. As always, I remain Sincerely, Steve Cohen
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