After one vote that could change everything…
WASHINGTON — Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.), chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, announced Monday night that he will step down from Congress in the coming weeks, shortly after the House is set to vote again on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — a budget reconciliation package central to President Donald Trump’s sweeping agenda.
The decision, first reported by Fox News Digital, will set off a special election in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District — a Republican stronghold that includes Clarksville and part of Nashville:
Green is an Army veteran who has served in Congress since 2019.
As House Homeland Security Committee chairman, he oversaw Republicans’ impeachment of former Biden administration DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
It’s not clear where in the private sector Green will go, but it’s a safe bet to assume his House seat will stay in Republican hands.
The district voted for President Donald Trump by more than 20 percentage points over former Vice President Kamala Harris last year.
Private Sector Move Follows Legislative Milestone
Green, who had previously signaled retirement before reversing course and winning reelection in 2024, said he has accepted an “exciting” offer outside of politics.
“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.”
“They asked me to deliver on the conservative values and principles we all hold dear, and I did my level best to do so. Along the way, we passed historic tax cuts, worked with President Trump to secure the border, and defended innocent life. I am extremely proud of my work as Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, and want to thank my staff, both in my seventh district office, as well as the professional staff on that committee,” Green added.
Background: A Sudden Departure After Reversal
Green’s imminent resignation marks yet another sharp turn for the congressman, who just months ago reversed his decision to retire after pressure from party leadership and President Trump. He reentered the race and secured another term in the 2024 elections.
However, his time in office has been anything but smooth. His final campaign was clouded by personal turmoil, including a public divorce and allegations of infidelity with a younger woman, brought to light during the fall.
“He fell head over heels in love with her to the extent he wanted to marry her and start a new family,” his wife wrote in September 2024, according to Politico. “Satan has rewritten our marriage in his mind.”
Green’s reelection campaign offered a brief statement in response: “This is a difficult time for my family and me, and we are currently going through divorce proceedings. As this is a deeply private matter, I ask for privacy. … I will continue to serve this district with all I’ve got, as I have the last five and a half years.”
While the scandal drew both local and national attention, it ultimately had little effect on the outcome. His Democratic challenger, former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, was unable to overcome the district’s deep-red lean.
What Comes Next
- Vacancy Triggered: Green’s departure will temporarily narrow the Republican majority in the House.
- Special Election: Tennessee Governor Bill Lee will set a date for a special election to fill the seat.
- Safe Republican District: TN-7 has remained comfortably red in recent cycles, minimizing the risk of a partisan flip.
Green, a former Army flight surgeon, referred to his time in Congress as “the honor of a lifetime.”
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