Representative Steve Cohen, the last Democratic member of Tennessee’s Congress, confirmed he will not run in 2026 after the GOP‑led legislature split his Memphis‑based district into three new seats. The move follows a Supreme Court ruling that weakened the Voting Rights Act, prompting Tennessee to redraw lines that dilute Black voter influence.

Cohen, 76, had already faced a heated primary against State Rep. Justin J. Pearson, 31, a rising Black Democrat known for his gun‑control activism. Pearson declared he would still challenge Cohen in the newly redrawn, heavily Republican Ninth District, while other Democrats eye the new seats. The map’s reshaping may leave Tennessee without any Democratic representation.

The announcement underscores how court decisions and partisan redistricting can reshape political landscapes, stripping incumbents of viable constituencies. Cohen’s departure opens a vacuum that could accelerate a generational shift within the state’s Democratic ranks, while Republicans gain a structural edge in the new districts.

Ultimately, the redistricting gamble may cost Tennessee its only Democratic voice in Congress and could reshape fundraising and campaign strategies for both parties in upcoming elections.