After 20 years holding federal office, Cohen drops out

The AM/DM · May 19, 2026 · 1m

After the Tennessee legislature redrew the state's congressional districts during a three-day special session, it left District 9 incumbent Steve Cohen and democratic challenger Justin J. Pearson living in District 5. The two are still allowed to run in August's District 9 primary, for which they were both already certified. Pearson plans to do so. But Cohen announced last week that he was dropping out of the race, saying it was the most difficult moment he's had as an elected official. Longtime political reporter Bill Dries joins us today to talk about Cohen's legacy and how the three…