Representative Mark Green, a Republican from Tennessee, officially announced his resignation from Congress on Friday. While anticipated, this move is poised to reduce the already slim Republican majority in the House for the interim.
In a heartfelt message to his constituents in Tennessee’s 7th District, Green expressed gratitude, stating, “The trust you put in me is humbling. I will look back fondly on my years of serving as your voice in Washington,” as noted in a post on X.
Following Green’s departure, Republicans will hold a 219-212 majority in the House until his seat in the predominantly Republican district is filled.
According to Finance Newso News, Green’s resignation will take effect on July 20, as detailed in a correspondence he sent to House Republican leaders.
This resignation presents a setback for House Speaker Mike Johnson, exacerbating the challenges he faces with an already fragile majority. The difficulties were evident earlier this week as Johnson sought to rally support for President Donald Trump’s significant legislation.
The Speaker struggled to unify his party around the expansive bill, and Green’s resignation adds to the hurdles, leaving minimal margin for error regarding potential defections within the party.
Although his exit had been foreshadowed—with Green announcing in June his intention to step down—his resignation coincides with a period of significant turnover among lawmakers. Recently, Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., and other members have also departed from their roles, with Waltz leaving to contribute to the Trump administration.
Another retirement announced by centrist Representative Don Bacon provides Democrats with a potential opportunity to secure the House seat from Bacon’s Omaha district.
