Steve Cohen

Stephen Ira Cohen is a Democratic politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Tennessee's 9th congressional district, a seat he has held since 2007. A native of Memphis, Cohen graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1971 and received his Juris Doctor from the University of Memphis School of Law in 1973. His early career included service as a legal advisor to the Memphis Police Department and as vice president of the 1977 Tennessee Constitutional Convention. He also served as a Shelby County Commissioner from 1978 to 1980. Before entering the U.S. House of Representatives, Cohen served 24 years in the Tennessee State Senate from 1983 to 2006. He is best known in state politics as the 'Father of the Tennessee Lottery' for his long-term effort to create a lottery-funded college scholarship program. Upon his election to Congress in 2006, he became the first Jewish person to represent Tennessee in the House. Throughout his tenure, he has focused on civil rights, transportation, and judicial issues, formerly serving as the Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

Cohen's legislative record reflects a progressive platform focused on social justice, healthcare access, and environmental protection. He is a strong supporter of the Affordable Care Act and has cosponsored the Medicare for All Act to advocate for a universal healthcare system. A longtime advocate for civil rights, he has sponsored legislation for a formal apology for slavery and Jim Crow laws and has led hearings on voting rights and reparations. He supports climate change mitigation and policies that promote renewable energy and conservation. In foreign policy, he supports a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, advocates for continued assistance to Ukraine, and favors normalizing relations with Cuba. Additionally, he supports comprehensive immigration reform and has been a vocal critic of aggressive enforcement and racial profiling.