Tennessee's May 2026 congressional redistricting split Memphis across three districts and altered the 9th into a more Republican-leaning seat stretching toward Nashville suburbs, prompting longtime incumbent Steve Cohen to withdraw from the August 6 Democratic primary. This structural shift elevated state Representative Justin Pearson, who had already launched a challenge and secured endorsements from a majority of House Democratic colleagues, to frontrunner status at 56.5% implied probability. Activist DeVante Hill and other Memphis-based candidates trail at lower levels, reflecting Pearson's established local profile and fundraising edge in the open contest. The primary outcome will determine the Democratic nominee for the reconfigured district.