WASHINGTON — In an emotional moment, Tennessee Representative Steve Cohen tearfully addressed his decision to withdraw from the upcoming election, citing recent redistricting that effectively blocked his chances of winning.
As the only Democrat in Tennessee’s congressional delegation, Cohen expressed deep frustration over the Republican-led redrawing of the 9th district, which predominantly comprises minority communities. He criticized the redistricting process as detrimental to the democratic process.
“This situation saddens me,” the outgoing Democrat shared with Chris Cuomo on NewsNation. “I don’t understand the calls to just stand and fight.”
“Why battle on when the district’s been altered to the point of making victory impossible? It’s illogical,” he remarked.
Having represented the Memphis-based district since 2007, Cohen emphasized how this year’s mid-decade redistricting, a contentious issue nationwide, is typically not undertaken at this time.
He accused retiring Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) of caving to pressure from President Trump and Republicans in DC to squeeze out another House seat for them.
Lee had signed the new map into effect on May 7, which sliced up the 9th District into three new Republican-leaning districts.
While discussing the ordeal, Cohen began to well up, something he acknowledged to Cuomo.
“It’s funny, my press conference today is the most cameras I think I’ve had since the Victoria incident. And here we are again. And I got tears,” the Tennessee Democrat reflected.
That’s a reference to the wild controversy in 2013 when it was revealed that a woman named Victoria Brink, whom he claimed was his biological daughter, was shown in a paternity test not to be his.
Cohen also reflected on the fact that he is a white man representing a black majority district. Republicans moved to carve it up in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s gutting of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
“I’ve got a great district, wonderful people. They’ve supported me so well,” the congressman said. “You know, it’s an amazing thing that the African-American community supported me for 20 years as they did.”
“And the Republicans don’t see it, and they just tear it apart because they have no perspective of caring about African-Americans or caring about people getting together and anything nice that happens. It’s a tough sport, and they play it tough.”
Tennessee’s primaries are slated for Aug. 6.