(The Center Square) – U.S. Rep. Mark Green’s tenure representing Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District has five more days and the competition for his successor is already crowded in both parties.
Democratic state Rep. Vincent Dixie of Nashville entered the race Tuesday. Two other Democratic lawmakers, Nashville Reps. Bo Mitchell and Aftyn Behn. announced their candidacies last week in hopes of turning the seat blue.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to flip this seat and finally send someone to Washington who understands what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck,” Dixie said in a release. “After 40 years of Republican control, we can finally put people over politics.”
Green has chosen someone he would like to see succeed him. He threw his support behind Republican Matt Van Epps, the former commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services.
“He will stand side by side with President Trump to deliver on the America First agenda that puts Tennessee first,” Green said in a statement posted by Epps.
Rep. Jody Barrett, R-Dickson; Montgomery County Commissioner Jason Knight; and combat veteran Jon Thorpe are also in the race for the Republican nomination.
Rep. Jay Reedy, R-Erin, said Tuesday he is not running.
“Though I have been humbled by those who have asked me to run and those who have pledged support, at this time I feel God has placed me in the Tennessee State House and the job is not quite finished,” Reedy said in a social media post.
Green resigned July 4. He said in a video that he is starting a company in the private sector.
“While I cannot give the details here, I will be doing something specifically designed to help America compete against the CCP, but this time in business,” Green said, referring to the Chinese Communist Party.
Green served in the Tennessee Senate from 2013 to 2018. He won Tennessee’s 7th in 2018 after incumbent Marsha Blackburn decided to run for U.S. Senate.
