Just one day after former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry ended her campaign for Congress, another Democrat heads to the sidelines.
Democrat Memphis Congressman Steve Cohen, who has represented the majority black Memphis 9th District for 20 years, has announced he will not seek reelection after the district lines were redrawn.
Cohen still has about $2 million in his campaign coffers. He cannot legally use that money for personal use, but he can use it to promote other candidates and assist Democrats in Tennessee and across the country.
MOLDER RELAUNCHES IN FIFTH DISTRICT. Meanwhile, Democrat Mayor of Columbia Chaz Molder is undaunted by the newly drawn lines for the 5th District and is continuing his attempt to unseat incumbent Congressman Andy Ogles. Molder does not live in the new district, but by virtue of residing in Maury County (now split between the 9th and 5th Districts) he can run in either one. With his $2 million warchest, while Ogles sits on about $80,000, Molder clearly believes Ogles is the better target.
Molder has a financial advantage against Ogles, but a geographic disadvantage as the new district is about four points more favorable to Republicans than the old 5th.
Steve Gill is editor and publisher of TriStar Daily.
