Image Credit: @VoteBo / X & @LeeReevesTN / X & Canva
The Center Square [By Kim Jarrett] –
Another Republican has entered the 7th Congressional District race and the first Democrat announced he is running.
Republican state Rep. Lee Reeves of Franklin announced his candidacy for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Mark Green.
“President Trump is our nation’s quarterback, calling the plays to Make America Great Again, and I’m running to be on his team in Congress,” Reeves said. “I congratulate President Trump on passing the One Big Beautiful Bill – a monumental victory for our country and I was proud to support it. In Washington, I’ll fight alongside him to secure our borders, protect our values, and deliver for the people of Tennessee’s 7th District – the communities of Williamson, Montgomery, Robertson, Davidson, Cheatham, Dickson, Hickman, Perry, Decatur, Stewart, Houston, Humphreys, Wayne, and Benton counties.”
Reeves joins a crowded field of Republicans that includes state Rep. Jody Barrett, R-Dickson; Matt Van Epps, who served as commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services; state Rep. Jay Reedy; Montgomery County Commissioner Jason Knight; and combat veteran Jon Thorpe.
The first Democrat jumped into the race on Monday. Rep. Bo Mitchell, R-Nashville, called the federal budget bill the “Big (not at all) Beautiful Bill.”
“I am disgusted by the passage of this big, ugly bill; it will decimate rural health care and close rural hospitals, rip health coverage away from 290,000 Tennesseans, hurt our economy and kick 778,000 of our people off of SNAP, causing more kids across our state to go hungry – all to give giant tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans,” Mitchell said. “I’ll always put the people of Tennessee first. That means I’ll work with anyone in either party when it helps our state, and I will continue to stand up to anyone who tries to hurt our state – like this new law will do.”
Green, who chaired the House Homeland Security Committee, resigned on July 4 after voting for the budget bill. He said he is starting a company in the private sector.
A date for a special election to replace Green has not been set.
