Montgomery County Commissioner Jason Knight said Wednesday he’s launching a campaign to replace Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.), who announced earlier this week he would be leaving Congress for an opportunity in the private sector.
“Throughout my entire career, I have consistently proven myself to be a principled conservative and a problem solver who delivers,” Knight said in a statement posted on X announcing his candidacy.
“In Congress, I will listen, lead, and deliver conservative results that make America and Tennessee safer, stronger, and more prosperous.”
Green announced on Monday that he would leave Congress after the House votes again on President Trump’s megabill. The legislation is now in the Senate’s hands for consideration.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce my retirement from Congress,” Green said in a statement. “Recently, I was offered an opportunity in the private sector that was too exciting to pass up. As a result, today I notified the Speaker and the House of Representatives that I will resign from Congress as soon as the House votes once again on the reconciliation package.”
Green represents Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, which includes part of Nashville, and has served in the House since 2019. He handily beat his Democratic challenger, Megan Barry, by more than 20 points in November.
The Tennessee Republican announced in last year that he was planning to retire after his term after former Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was impeached, but he later reversed course after Trump and others asked him to reconsider.
Knight is not the only Republican running for Green’s seat; Matt Van Epps, who serves as commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services, has also launched a bid.
A special election has not yet been set for Green’s seat.
