DeVante Hill enters Tennessee’s 9th District race, adding to a growing Democratic primary field
A new contender in a safely Democratic Memphis-based seat
DeVante Hill has announced a run for Congress in Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District, setting up an increasingly crowded Democratic primary in a district anchored in Memphis and extending into part of Tipton County. The seat is currently held by U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, a Democrat first elected in 2006 who won re-election in 2024 with 71.3% of the vote.
The 2026 election for the U.S. House is scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026. Tennessee’s partisan primaries are scheduled for Aug. 6, 2026, and the candidate filing deadline for the congressional primary is March 10, 2026.
Who is already in the Democratic contest
Hill’s entry comes as Cohen faces an intraparty challenge from state Rep. Justin Pearson, a Memphis Democrat representing a state House district and a nationally known figure since 2023. With Hill now also in the field, Democratic voters in the district are positioned to choose among multiple candidates in a primary that will likely determine the next member of Congress, given the district’s long-standing Democratic voting history.
- Steve Cohen, incumbent U.S. representative
- Justin Pearson, Tennessee state representative
- DeVante Hill, Democratic candidate
District profile and electoral context
Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District is heavily urban and centered on Memphis. The district has voted Democratic in every congressional race since 1974, reflecting demographic and political patterns that have made it the state’s most reliably Democratic U.S. House seat. Recent profile estimates place the district’s population at roughly three-quarters of a million residents, with a majority-Black electorate and a median household income in the mid-$50,000 range.
While general-election competition has historically been limited in the district, primaries can become the pivotal arena for debates over representation, policy priorities, and political strategy in Memphis and surrounding communities.
What Hill’s candidacy adds
Hill has previously been visible in Memphis civic life, including participating in local efforts tied to public safety and community engagement. His congressional bid introduces another option for Democratic primary voters beyond the established incumbent and a high-profile state legislator challenger.
The 9th District primary is shaping up as a defining contest for Memphis-area Democratic politics ahead of the Aug. 6, 2026 primary election.
What happens next
With the filing deadline set for March 10, 2026, additional candidates could still enter the race. The next major milestones will include campaign finance reporting, endorsements, and early organizing ahead of the summer primary. The general election will follow on Nov. 3, 2026.