U.S. Rep. Mark Green (R-Clarksville) hopes to keep his seat in Congress, recanting an announcement from two weeks ago that he wouldn’t seek reelection in Tennessee’s 7th District. Since his Valentine's Day announcement, Green says he has received calls from constituents, colleagues and former President Donald Trump.
“I have come to realize our fight is not here within Washington, our fight is with Washington,” Green said on Feb. 14, announcing his plan to leave Congress. In a statement released Thursday, he says he will indeed seek reelection to “help President Trump end this border crisis once and for all.”
Clarksville Republican has previously eyed higher office, opens seat that partially covers Nashville
Green heads the powerful House Homeland Security Committee and spent much of the past year pushing impeachment articles for Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. Trump appointed Green as Secretary of the Army in 2017, but the Clarksville Republican pulled his nomination after coming under fire for anti-Muslim and anti-LGBTQ comments. He has represented Tennessee's 7th Congressional District, which was redrawn in 2020 to include parts of Nashville, since 2018.
Since entering Congress, Green has blocked action on climate change, opposed COVID vaccinations and refused to certify Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential victory. Green briefly pursued the House speakership in October before backing far-right pugilist Jim Jordan of Ohio.
Green reported $433,164 on hand at the end of 2023. Former state Rep. Brandon Ogles, a Republican and cousin of U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, filed paperwork for Green’s seat earlier this month. Former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry announced her candidacy in December and remains the only Democrat in the race.
U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn and members of the Tennessee General Assembly also reached out encouraging Green to keep his seat, according to campaign manager Alex Joyner.
