WASHINGTON, May 15 (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. Representative Steve Cohen said on Friday he will not seek re-election after his Tennessee district was redrawn by Republicans.
Cohen, 76, represents a majority-Black district in Memphis, but Republicans in Tennessee passed a new map splitting Shelby County, which includes Memphis, into three Republican-leaning districts. A U.S. Supreme Court decision has gutted a landmark voting rights law that protected districts where racial minorities comprise a majority of the district.
o Cohen faced a progressive primary challenge from 31-year-old State Representative Justin Pearson.
o Tennessee primary is August 6.
o Democrats only need to capture a net three seats from Republicans to win control of U.S. House of Representatives in November midterm elections.
o Republicans in several states have redrawn congressional districts after President Donald Trump urged Texas to redraw its map last summer.
o Democrats have countered in other states but were set back by Supreme Court decision and a Virginia Supreme Court ruling nullifying a voter-approved map.
(Reporting by Nolan D. McCaskill; editing by Andy Sullivan and Kevin Liffey)
By Nolan D. McCaskill
