The Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office announced the dates for a special election to replace former Rep. Mark Green, setting an October primary and December general election.
While Green announced his retirement at the end of June, his last day was Sunday, triggering Gov. Bill Lee and the SoS Office to formally call the special election this week.
Green’s departure comes less than a year into his fourth term — for which he initially said he would not run and later won, despite a cheating scandal and divorce — and will result in a later-than-usual election timeline, due in part to an unused 2011 state law.
Now, half of his term will be decided by voters in parts of Western Davidson and Williamson Counties, all of Clarksville and encompassing nearly a dozen smaller counties in Middle Tennessee.
Here are the dates you need to know for the special election.
Primary election
The primary election will be held Oct. 7, with early voting from Sept. 17 to Oct. 2. The deadline to register to vote in the primary is Sept. 8.
Green handily won his re-election in 2024, despite his own personal hurdles, earning nearly 60 percent of the vote.
Republicans looking to succeed Green include state Representatives Jody Barrett (R-Dickson) and Lee Reeves (R-Franklin). Several U.S. Army Veterans, like Green, are also vying for the seat, including Springfield resident Jon Thorp, Montgomery County Commissioner Jason Knight and former commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services Michael Van Epps, who resigned to run for Green’s seat. Stewart Parks, a Nashville resident convicted and later pardoned on disorderly conduct charges related to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, is also running.
While Democrats have consistently lost in the district — and in all statewide and congressional races for the better part of two decades — the party has consistently gained ground in special elections held across the country since President Donald Trump’s second term began.
Democratic state representatives Aftyn Behn, Vincent Dixie and Bo Mitchell are running against first-time candidate and Calvert Street Group Managing Director Darden Copeland.
The already crowded primary races may continue to grow over the next few weeks as candidates have until Aug. 12 to qualify.
General election
The general election will be held on Dec. 2, with early voting available from Nov. 12 through 26. The voter registration deadline for the general election is Nov. 3.
Whoever wins the election will serve the remaining year of Green’s term before the seat is back up for regular election in 2026.
Voters can check or update their registration at GoVoteTN.gov.
