Longtime TN Rep Jim Cooper Becomes 29th House Dem to Announce Plans Not to Seek Re-Election in 2022

Longtime U.S. House Rep Jim Cooper (D-TN) announced today that he will not seek re-election in 2022 after Republicans were able to split up Davidson County, which contains Nashville, into three separate districts in redistricting.

In a statement, Cooper declared, “Today I am announcing that I will not run for re-election to Congress. After 32 years in office, I will be leaving Congress next year.”

“I cannot thank the people of Nashville enough. You backed me more than almost anyone in Tennessee history,” Cooper insisted.

Cooper also referred to the splitting up of Nashville as a “dismembering” in the statement.

“Having started as the youngest congressman in America, even after my record tenure, I am still only 67 years old,” Cooper noted.

Re-districting analyst Dave Wasserman quote tweeted Cooper and explained, “No surprise here, after new GOP map came out flipping #TN05 from Biden +24 to Trump +11.”

“Cooper becomes the 29th House Dem to forgo reelection,” Wasserman added.

No surprise here, after new GOP map came out flipping #TN05 from Biden +24 to Trump +11. Cooper becomes the 29th House Dem to forgo reelection. https://t.co/vVppsVC8CH

— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) January 25, 2022

In an effort to stem the tide today against Democrats, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) tweeted out today, “With the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Democrats have delivered #ForThePeople!”

“These investments will create millions of good-paying, union jobs in communities across the country over the next decade rebuilding America’s infrastructure,” Pelosi asserted.

With the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Democrats have delivered #ForThePeople! These investments will create millions of good-paying, union jobs in communities across the country over the next decade rebuilding America’s infrastructure.

— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 25, 2022