NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Inexperienced on Wednesday introduced that he will not run for a fourth time period, pointing to the impeachment of Homeland Safety Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas simply the day earlier than as among the many causes it’s “time for me to return dwelling.”
“Our nation – and our Congress – is damaged past most technique of restore,” Inexperienced mentioned in a press release. “I’ve come to comprehend our struggle will not be right here inside Washington, our struggle is with Washington.”
As chairman of the Committee on Homeland Safety, Inexperienced was a driving pressure behind the Mayorkas impeachment push over border safety in a deeply partisan and extremely uncommon assault on a Cupboard official. His panel performed a months-long investigation of Mayorkas, his insurance policies and his administration of the division, finally concluding Tuesday that his conduct in workplace amounted to “excessive crimes and misdemeanors” worthy of impeachment.
Inexperienced has served since 2019 within the seventh Congressional District, which was redrawn in 2022 to incorporate a good portion of Nashville. He beforehand served as an Military surgeon and within the state Senate and is from Montgomery County.
Inexperienced flirted working for governor in 2017, however suspended his marketing campaign after he was nominated by former President Donald Trump to turn into the Military secretary. He later withdrew his nomination as a consequence of criticism over his remarks about Muslims and LGBTQ+ People, together with saying that being transgender is a illness. He additionally urged {that a} stand be taken in opposition to “the indoctrination of Islam” in public faculties and referred to a “Muslim horde” that invaded Constantinople tons of of years in the past.
After profitable the congressional seat in 2018, Inexperienced as soon as once more made headlines after internet hosting a city corridor the place he acknowledged, with out citing proof, that vaccines trigger autism. He later walked again his feedback however not earlier than state well being officers described the Republican as a “ goofball.”
“As I’ve executed my total life, I’ll proceed serving this nation -– however in a brand new capability,” Inexperienced mentioned Wednesday, not disclosing if he’ll run once more for governor in 2026, the place the seat will up for grabs as a result of Republican Gov. Invoice Lee is prohibited from working beneath Tennessee’s gubernatorial time period limits.
In 2022, Inexperienced’s center Tennessee congressional seat was amongst seats that Republicans drastically carved up throughout redistricting. These congressional maps at the moment are going through a federal lawsuit, however that case isn’t scheduled to go to trial till April 2025.
To this point on the Republican facet, Caleb Stack has pulled petitions to run for the now open congressional district. Former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry introduced final yr that she would run for the place as a Democrat.
“I anticipate candidates who agree with Mark Inexperienced or are much more excessive will announce campaigns, and I sit up for taking up whoever makes it by means of that main,” Barry mentioned in a press release.
