Mark Green, a physician and retired U.S. Army surgeon, represented Tennessee’s 7th congressional district from 2019 until his resignation in 2025. A Republican, Green chaired the House Committee on Homeland Security from 2023 to 2025 before leaving Congress to enter the private sector.

A West Point graduate, Green served as an infantry officer before earning his medical degree at Wright State University. He became a flight surgeon with the Army’s elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, participating in missions in Afghanistan and Iraq, including Operation Red Dawn, which captured Saddam Hussein. He later authored a book about the experience.

After retiring from the military in 2006, Green founded Align MD, a hospital staffing company, and launched a medical foundation providing care to underserved communities. He entered politics in 2012, winning a Tennessee Senate seat, where he championed legislation to repeal the state’s Hall Income Tax and expand protections for veterans and small businesses.

Green was elected to Congress in 2018, succeeding Marsha Blackburn, and won reelection three times. His tenure included a brief bid for House Speaker in 2023 and leadership on homeland security issues. He announced his resignation in June 2025 after the passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” ending his congressional career on July 20.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – It all comes down to Tuesday, December 2, as voters will decide between Republican Matt Van Epps and Democrat Aftyn Behn to fill Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District seat left vacant by former Rep. Mark Green.

The 7th congressional seat was formerly filled by Green, a combat veteran, emergency room doctor and former state senator, who announced his retirement from politics twice to pursue a career in the private sector.

Results – Special Election: U.S. House of Representatives 7th Congressional District

District 7: The 7th Congressional District spans 14 Tennessee counties, including Benton, Cheatham, Davidson, Decatur, Dickson, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Montgomery, Perry, Robertson, Stewart, Wayne and Williamson.

Latest: Poll shows Republican Van Epps holding slight lead over Democrat Behn in Tennessee’s special congressional race

A new survey from Emerson College Polling/The Hill survey shows that 48% of voters support Van Epps and 46% support Behn. It also found that 2% plan to vote for one of three third-party candidates on the ballot, and 5% are undecided.

Here is the official list of candidates:

• Matt Van Epps – Republican
• Aftyn Behn – Democratic
• Teresa “Terri” Christie – Independent
• Bobby Dodge – Independent
• Robert James Sutherby – Independent
• Jon Thorp – Independent

Representative Aftyn Behn (D-Nashville): State representative elected in a 2023 special election who says she has “fought to keep our families safe, standing up to those who siphon wealth from our neighborhoods while stripping away our freedoms.”

Matt Van Epps: A combat veteran who worked in the Tennessee Department of General Services under Gov. Bill Lee, who says he “understands the values of hard work, personal responsibility, and service to community that define this great state.”

Previous: Trump-backed Van Epps and Democrat Behn win Tennessee primaries for US House special election

Here are when Special Election Day polls will open in each District 7 county:

• Benton County – 8 a.m.
• Cheatham County – 7 a.m.
• Davidson County – 7 a.m.
• Decatur County – 8 a.m.
• Dickson County – 7 a.m.
• Hickman County – 8 a.m.
• Houston County – 9 a.m.
• Humphreys County – 9 a.m.
• Montgomery County – 7 a.m.
• Perry County – 9 a.m.
• Robertson County – 7 a.m.
• Stewart County – 8 a.m.
• Wayne County – 8 a.m.
• Williamson County – 7 a.m.

All polls will close at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 2.

Only registered voters who live in the U.S. House District 7 are eligible to vote in this election. Voters can check which congressional district they live in and also find their polling locations here.

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