End of an Era: After nearly 50 years in office, Congressman Steve Cohen reflects on his career in exit interview

As Tennessee early voting begins, Congressman Steve Cohen is not running for office for the first time in almost half a century, Action News 5 reported. His 9th District, which represents Memphis and Shelby County, was redrawn earlier this year by state Republicans. Cohen's political career began at Tennessee's 1977 Constitutional Convention, where he was elected a delegate and vice president in his twenties. He joined the Shelby County Commission in 1978, where he worked to secure funding for what is now Regional One, followed by nearly 25 years in the state Senate, where he earned the title "Father of the Tennessee Lottery." He was elected to Congress in 2006.

In his exit interview, Cohen pointed to federal grants for Memphis projects, including $3 million for Melrose High School and $1 million for Northside High School, and described securing $400 million for a new bridge across the Mississippi River as his greatest achievement. He also said he helped pass a 2008 resolution formally apologizing for slavery. Cohen, who said he would have sought reelection had the lines not changed, described his support base as African American voters who lack access to wealth and power.

The redistricting, which followed a Truth Social post from President Donald Trump after a Supreme Court decision partially overturning the Voting Rights Act, split the district Cohen represented. Cohen called Trump "the biggest threat to democracy this country has ever faced" and said he has filed 26 articles of impeachment against the president this year. Cohen said he has been asked to write a memoir and has received offers to teach at schools "up North." Election Day is Nov. 3, and early voting runs through Oct. 29.