Stephen Cohen

Democrat Representative of Tennessee's 9th district

Representative
Tennessee, district 9
January 4, 2007 - January 3, 2009
Representative
Tennessee, district 9
January 6, 2009 - January 3, 2011
Representative
Tennessee, district 9
January 5, 2011 - January 3, 2013
Representative
Tennessee, district 9
January 3, 2013 - January 3, 2015
Representative
Tennessee, district 9
January 6, 2015 - January 3, 2017
Representative
Tennessee, district 9
January 3, 2017 - January 3, 2019
Representative
Tennessee, district 9
January 3, 2019 - January 3, 2021
Representative
Tennessee, district 9
January 3, 2021 - January 3, 2023
Representative
Tennessee, district 9
January 3, 2023 - January 3, 2025

202-225-3265

@RepCohen

cohen.house.gov

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Congresses Served

House Terms

May 24, 1949 (75 years old)

Birthday

Served as the U.S. representative for Tennessee’s 9th congressional district since 2007
First Jewish congressman from Tennessee and the dean of the state’s congressional delegation as of 2023
Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee; a fourth-generation Memphian with Jewish immigrant grandparents from Lithuania and Poland
Contracted polio at age five, which shifted his focus from sports to politics
Attended Vanderbilt University and the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law
Began his political career as a legal advisor for the Memphis Police Department, then served as a commissioner on the Shelby County Commission and as an interim judge
Served in the Tennessee Senate for 24 years, where he worked to repeal the ban on lotteries, resulting in the creation of a state lottery program for college scholarships
Ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996 but won the seat in 2006
Known for his progressive stance on various issues, including healthcare, gun control, energy, environment, and cannabis legalization
Criticized the removal of the graphic novel “Maus” from a school curriculum in Tennessee
Supports raising Senate salaries, extending unemployment benefits, and opposes privatizing Social Security
Advocated for alternative energy sources, environmental conservation, and public transportation expansion
Opposed the Iraq War and sponsored legislation to reduce infrastructure funding to Afghanistan
Co-authored the National Guard & Reservist Debt Relief Extension Act
Recommended judicial nominees to President Obama as there were no Democratic U.S. Senators from Tennessee at the time
Sponsored and co-sponsored numerous bills, including efforts to legalize cannabis and government reform measures
Boycotted the speech of the Prime Minister of Israel to Congress in 2015, citing opposition to foreign leaders opposing U.S. foreign policy
Involved in impeachment matters, including voting for the impeachment of President Donald Trump and introducing a resolution for the impeachment of Attorney General William Barr
Criticized for comparing Republican efforts to repeal healthcare reform to Goebbels and the Holocaust, later expressing regret for the remarks
Known for his media appearances and active engagement on social media platforms