2 days ago
More candidates enter field to replace Green in Tennessee's 7th District
Two combat veterans, Maj. Jason Knight and Jon Thorp, have announced they will run in the special Republican primary to fill the vacancy created by U.S/ Rep. Mark Green's resignation. (Knight photo: Montgomery County Commission; Thorp photo: Jon Thorp for TN-7 Facebook)
Two combat veterans are joining the race to replace outgoing Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Green, while a former political operative is considering a candidacy for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District seat.
Springfield resident Jon Thorp and Maj. Jason Knight of Clarksville, both veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns, announced they are entering the field as Republicans.
A special election is to be held for the seat after Green said this week he will step down as soon as the House votes on President Donald Trump's budget plan.
They join Tennessee Department of General Services Commissioner Matt Van Epps, who reportedly left his post, in announcing their candidacy this week.
In addition, Michael Lotfi, deputy state director of Americans for Prosperity, said he is considering entering the race. Lotfi sparked outrage among Tennessee lawmakers six years ago when they found out former House Speaker Glen Casada put him on the state payroll as a political operative.
Thorp, an officer in the U.S. Army on multiple tours of duty, is billing himself as a political outsider under the 'Liberty Reset' movement in which he's calling for 'fiscal sanity,' congressional and bureaucratic term limits and full audits of government agencies.
Potential replacements for Tennessee U.S. Rep. Green line up
'This isn't about filling a seat. It's about flipping the script,' Thorp said in a statement. 'For too long, Washington has served lobbyists, not Tennesseans. This is our moment to choose a different kind of leadership – one that values honesty over polish, accountability over party loyalty, and courage over careerism.'
Thorp acknowledged he hasn't voted in 24 years because he didn't like candidates from either major political party but said he is entering the race as children are being 'handed a collapsing economy, weaponized bureaucracy and a rigged political class that serves donors instead of voters.'
Knight, a Montgomery County commissioner and former Clarksville City Council member who served nine years with the 101st Airborne Division, said he is running because 'President Trump needs reinforcements' and 'backups' in Congress.
'From lawless rioters in California to obstructionists in Congress to far-left governors like Gavin Newsom, it is clear that an extreme out-of-touch minority is trying to stop President Trump and the America First policies that he is fighting for,' Knight said in a statement.
Knight described himself as a 'staunch constitutionalist and a proven conservative' who would support increased border security and efforts to deport 'criminals' who have no permanent legal documentation.
In a statement to the Tennessee Lookout, Lotfi admitted he would be a 'pretty flawed candidate' but said he is honest, 'if that counts for anything anymore.'
If no candidate emerges who will try to cut wasteful spending and return the federal government to its original 'scale and scope,' Lotfi said he would enter the race.
'Voters want bottom-up solutions that will empower them. They want to reclaim the American dream,' he said.
Others considering running for the post are Republican state Sen. Bill Powers of Clarksville, Republican state Rep. Jody Barrett of Dickson and former Republican state Rep. Brandon Ogles of Brentwood. Those drawing mentions are House Speaker Cameron Sexton, state Rep. Gino Bulso and Chris Burger, a Tennessee political operative.
On the Democratic side, state Rep. Vincent Dixie of Nashville confirmed he is considering running.
'I've had a lot of support and phone calls from people I respect who have asked me to run,' said Dixie. 'I am seriously contemplating running for District 7: I'm about 98.3% sure that this is what I want to do.'
Sen. Charlane Oliver told the Lookout she is not interested in a congressional run at this time.
'I take it very seriously,' Oliver said. 'It's not just an opportunity, it's a life change. I'm honored and flattered that people would consider me.'
Others being floated are former Nashville Mayors Megan Barry and John Cooper, state Rep. John Ray Clemmons, former Tennessee State University President Glenda Glover and Darden Copeland, founder of Nashville-based land use consulting firm Calvert Street Group.
In a statement, Barry said, 'Green has announced his resignation before so let's see if he actually follows through. I'm still taking it all in and don't want to enter into this lightly.'
'I've been talking with my family and advisors and will make a decision when the time is right.'
Clemmons told the Lookout that Democrats must unite behind a single candidate, but did not indicate whether he will run.
State Bo Mitchell and state Sen. Jeff Yarbro, all of whom have been mentioned as potential candidates, did not respond to requests for comment from the Lookout.
(Holly McCall contributed to this story.)
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