The Democratic Party’s game is coming to an end, as yet more House Democrat bringing the number to 29, announced their retirement from the lower house with no intention of running for reelection in the 2022 midterm elections.
Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN), according to Fox News, is the latest Democrat to abandon ship. His term ends this year, and he stated on Tuesday that he will retire.
On Tuesday morning, the Tennessee Democrat turned to Twitter to announce his plans for the future, thanking his colleagues and supporters for their support throughout the years.
Cooper is the dean of Tennessee’s congressional delegation and a member of the Democrats’ Blue Dog Coalition of moderate legislators, in addition to his usual House duties.
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.
— Jim Cooper (@repjimcooper) January 25, 2022
I cannot thank the people of Nashville enough. You backed me more than almost anyone in Tennessee history. pic.twitter.com/C6LE31uFQC
Redistricting was stated as his reason for giving it quits after this term, as it has been for many others.
Cooper spoke strongly about his efforts to prevent redistricting, which occurs nationwide after the 10-year census findings are made public, in another social media statement.
Cooper wrote: “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,”.
He went on to say that he wanted to make the announcement as soon as possible to give other Democratic candidates plenty of opportunity to enter the race.
With Cooper’s departure, the Democratic Party now has 29, and counting, members leaving. It appears that the party will soon be completely depleted, with rookie MPs who have no idea what the next two years would bring under a Republican-led lower house.
