Jim Cooper from Tennessee becomes latest House Democrat to not seek reelection

[Celerity]

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/591302-rep-jim-cooper-becomes-latest-house-democrat-to-not-seek-reelection

Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.) announced Tuesday that he will not seek reelection this year, citing new congressional district lines that split up his home city of Nashville, which he's represented in Congress for decades.

Cooper acknowledged that he doesn't see a path to reelection under the state's new redistricting plan that would divide Nashville into three congressional districts.

"Despite my strength at the polls, I could not stop the General Assembly from dismembering Nashville. No one tried harder to keep our city whole. I explored every possible way, including lawsuits, to stop the gerrymandering and to win one of the three new congressional districts that now divide Nashville," Cooper said in a statement. "There's no way, at least for me in this election cycle, but there may be a path for other worthy candidates," he added.

Cooper said he wanted to announce his decision now so that other candidates have time to enter the race and that he will return campaign donations he's already received.

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[dem4decades]

1. The writing is on the wall, and it's ugly.

[Mad_Machine76]

2. WTH?!

Just giving up a seat?!

[Celerity]

3. he doesn't see a path to reelection under the state's new redistricting plan that would divide

Nashville into three congressional districts

[Mad_Machine76]

6. So the solution

is just to basically cede it to the GOP? Will Democrats run *somebody* in the district?! I get what you're saying but just throwing in the towel seems counterproductive and just helps the GOP win. If you're going to go down- unless there might be a better candidate- might as well go down swinging?

[Celerity]

7. it was his choice, not mine, and I am sure we run somebody, but it is now gerrymandered badly for us

[dsc]

4. He can't win

given that Nashville is split three ways it is likely around a third of each seat if that, meaning two thirds is suburban and rural. Southern suburbs still tend GOP to a greater extent than suburbs of places like Phily and New York.

[budkin]

5. This is their goal

And it's working great.