Representative Steve Cohen, Democratic from Tennessee

Steve Cohen

Tennessee's 9th congressional district

TN-9 Midterms Intelligence

Steve Cohen sits in one of the safest Democratic seats in the South, a Memphis-based district that is both deeply blue and structurally under strain. TN-09 is 61.6% Black, young at a median age of 34.3, and votes like a fortress at D+47, giving Cohen broad room to operate as a senior liberal voice on Judiciary and Intelligence rather than a district-defensive incumbent. The constituency story is urban, majority-Black, and institution-heavy, with healthcare and education anchoring the local economy more than traditional industry.

For advocates, the opening is not persuasion on ideology but alignment with lived economic pressure: poverty runs 17.0% and unemployment 8.1%, so messages tied to jobs, affordability, transit access, public health, and community safety will travel best. Cohen’s committee profile makes civil rights, criminal justice, voting access, and government accountability especially resonant, but campaigns should root those themes in Memphis realities—hospital capacity, neighborhood investment, and federal delivery. This is a stronghold seat where coalition validators matter more than partisan contrast.

Representative Steve Cohen represents Tennessee's 9th congressional district, serving 759,561 constituents. The district has an estimated median household income of $55,052 and an unemployment rate of 8.1%.

Economic & Demographic Snapshot

759,561Population
↓ 7,744
$55,052Median Incomenat'l $37,585
↑ $3,726
8.1%Unemploymentnat'l 3.5%
↓ 0.3%
17%Poverty Ratenat'l 12.4%
↑ 0.2%
48.2%Homeownershipnat'l 65.5%
→ no change
$1,203Median Rentnat'l $1,163
↑ $123
0.6%Public Transitnat'l 5%
→ no change
22.5 minMean Commutenat'l 26.4 min
↓ 0.4 min

Data sourced from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2017-2021 vs. 2019-2023). All figures are statistical estimates with 90% confidence level.

Tennessee District 9 Demographics

Median Age 34.3 (vs 38.5) · Homeownership 48.2% (vs 65.5%) · Bachelor’s+ 26.9% (vs 33.7%) · Poverty 17% (vs 12.4%) · Income $55,052 (vs $37,585)

Key Issues for This District
Economic inequalityEducation accessHealthcare accessWorkforce development

Age Distribution

Skews younger than the national average (median age 34.3 vs 38.5 nationally). 30% of residents are in the 20–39 working-age bracket — housing affordability, student debt, and workforce messaging indexes high.

Race & Ethnicity

A majority-minority district. Black residents are the largest group at 61.6%. Also significant: White (25.1%).

* Hispanic includes respondents of any race. Racial categories include both Hispanic and non-Hispanic individuals.

Education

26.9% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, below the 33.7% national average. 12.1% of residents lack a high school diploma.

Income Distribution

Median household income is $55,052, well above the $37,585 national median.

Housing

Homeownership at 48.2% (vs 65.5% nationally). Median rent is $1,203. Median home value is $187,500.

How People Get to Work

Car-dependent: 77% drive alone to work. Average commute is 22.5 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates
Data represents 5-year statistical estimates for increased reliability.

Tennessee District 9 FAQ

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