Mark Green officially resigned as Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District representative on July 4 — a date he says was not chosen by accident in a video farewell to his constituents posted on social media.
He says in the video that he is returning to the private sector to start his own company.
"While I can't share the details here, I will be doing something specifically designed to help America compete against the [Chinese Communist Party], but this time in business," Green says after touting his addition of amendments to national defense authorization acts including one "to curb the malign influence of the Chinese Communist Party."
Announcement from Green — who flip-flopped on running in 2024 — will open the door for a special election
In June, Green said he would resign once President Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" was passed, which Trump gave Congress a deadline of July 4 to complete. With Green's resignation, Republicans' majority shrinks to seven seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.Â
In 2024, Green announced plans to retire but reversed course, ultimately defeating Democratic challenger and former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry by roughly 21 percentage points to retain his seat. Green has been met with scandal in the past year, including a high-profile divorce and allegations of an extramarital affair. He said in June of this year that he stayed to help accomplish the president's goals for border security and the reconciliation package.
Green, a U.S. Army veteran and West Point graduate, has represented Tennessee's 7th — which was gerrymandered in 2022 to include parts of Nashville — since 2018. He has also served as the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.Â
Nashville Democrats eye seat left vacant by Republican Mark Green’s surprise retirement
A special election will be held this year to determine who will fill the seat, and several potential candidates have already declared their interest.Â
State Sen. Bill Powers, state Rep. Jody Barrett and former state Rep. Brandon Ogles — a cousin to sitting U.S. Rep Andy Ogles of Tennessee's 5th Congressional District — have all been reported as potential candidates.
Matt Van Epps, a state commissioner and West Point graduate rumored to have been personally recruited by Green, announced his candidacy in June along with several others. Those include veteran and Montgomery County Commissioner Jason Knight as well as Jon Thorp, another veteran who is framing his run as that of a political outsider.
Nashville Reps. Bo Mitchell and Aftyn Behn on Monday both officially declared their intentions to run for Green's seat on the Democratic side of the ticket. Fellow Nashville Democratic Rep. Vincent Dixie has also expressed interest in running.
This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.
