Game on: Fields fill for Tennessee’s open 6th and 7th U.S. House seats; a Democrat in District 5

(This story has been updated with additional information.)

A rush of Republicans and Democrats are likely to run for two open U.S. Congressional seats in Middle Tennessee, including two Democratic lawmakers, with a third set to announce soon. 

U.S. Rep Mark Green, a Clarksville Republican, confirmed Monday he is stepping down from his 7th Congressional District seat on July 20, triggering a special election. The 7th district encompasses parts of northern Nashville, Clarksville, and half of Williamson County, as well as about a dozen other Middle Tennessee counties. 

Green announced in 2024 he would not run for reelection but one month later, was persuaded to run again by President Donald Trump. His official resignation comes days after he voted in favor of Trump’s domestic policy bill to cut Medicaid, food stamps and clean energy programs to partially pay for an extension and expansion of tax cuts.

By state law, the special election to replace Green must occur later this year. A primary election is likely to take place in September, and the general election in late October or early November. 

State Rep. Jody Barrett, a Dickson Republican, announced in a statement Monday he will run for the seat. Barrett, who voted against Gov. Bill Lee’s private school voucher program, positioned himself in the statement as an outsider. 

“I’ve taken on the elites in my own party and stood up for you,” Barrett said. “And like President Trump, they came after me to get to you.”

Rep. Lee Reeves, a Franklin Republican, announced his campaign on Wednesday.

Also on Wednesday, Mason Foley, who works for Main Street Health — the same firm that has employed Matt Van Epps, the former Commissioner of General Services now running in the District 7 Republican primary — filed candidate paperwork with the Federal Election Commission.

Tennessee Republican lawmaker entering congressional race

Barrett and Foley joins four other Republicans who have announced they are running to replace Green:

• Jason Knight, a Montgomery County Commissioner
• State Rep. Jay Reedy of Erin
• Jonathan Thorp, a U.S. Army veteran
• Van Epps

On the Democratic side, Reps. Aftyn Behn and Bo Mitchell, both  from Nashville, announced their candidacies for the seat.

“Now more than ever, Tennessee needs leaders in Congress who will have the courage to fight for us, not just cave to political pressure,” Mitchell said in a statement. “I am disgusted by the passage of this big, ugly bill; it will decimate rural health care and close rural hospitals.”

Behn took aim at President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful bill.”

“Wayne County Medical is at risk of closing, grocery and prescription costs will continue to soar and seniors will lose half a billion dollars in Medicare,” Behn said in a video posted to social media. All so “Billionaires and corporations get a big, fat tax break.” Behn said.

Down the line, races for Districts 5 and  6

Green’s resignation follows U.S. Rep. John Rose, a Cookeville Republican, who announced in March he will make a bid for governor in 2026, opening up the 6th Congressional seat. The 6th district includes the eastern part of Nashville, parts of Wilson County and about a dozen counties in Middle and East Tennessee.

Candidates for the 6th district have more time to declare, as Rose appears likely to finish his term. The 6th district election will fall on the traditional 2026 midterm election dates. 

Van Hilleary, who represented Tennessee Congressional District 4 from 1995 to 2003,  and serves as Rose’s chief of staff, filed his statement of candidacy with the FEC on July 1 to run to replace Rose. Hilleary last ran for office in 2002, when he lost a race for Tennessee governor to Democrat Phil Bredesen.

Other candidates to announce so far are Republican Dale Braden and Democrat Mike Croley.

And in Congressional District 5, first-term Metro Nashville Councilmember Mike Cortese filed a statement of candidacy with the FEC to run as a Democrat for the chance to take on U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, a Columbia Republican.

(Holly McCall contributed to this story.)