The Republican majority in the House is about to narrow even further as House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green (R-TN) has announced his decision to retire from Congress. In his announcement on Wednesday, the representative explained that his job is done having successfully overseen the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
“At the start of the 118th Congress, I promised my constituents to pass legislation to secure our borders and to hold Secretary Mayorkas accountable,” he stated. “Today, with the House having passed H.R. 2 and Secretary Mayorkas impeached, it is time for me to return home. In the last few months, in reading the writings of our Framers, I was reminded of their intent for representatives to be citizen-legislators, to serve for a season and then return home.”
Green then went on to point out that Congress and America, in general, is broken beyond repair, promising to continue serving in a different way.
Another Top Republican Announces Retirement: Congress ‘Broken Beyond Most Means Of Repair’ https://t.co/FWgamXTIVQ pic.twitter.com/btfjGLAR6P
— Daily Wire News (@DailyWireNews) February 14, 2024
In his words, “Our country — and our Congress — is broken beyond most means of repair. I have come to realize our fight is not here within Washington, our fight is with Washington. As I have done my entire life, I will continue serving this country — but in a new capacity.”
Moving on to gratitude, Green thanked his family for supporting his numerous years of serving the country, which included years of military service.
“I also want to thank the constituents of Tennessee’s 7th District for the unbelievable honor to serve them in Congress — whose vote of confidence was not only evident in the wide margins in each election, but also without ever having a single primary opponent in my three elections,” he stated before going on to appreciate his staff for their “unmatched hard work, dedication, and talent” which have “resulted in our many victories and one of the lowest turnover rates in Congress.”
Green, who previously served in the state Senate, began serving in the 7th Congressional District since 2019 after winning the congressional seat in 2018.
He considered running for governor in 2017 but later made the decision to suspend his campaign. It is unclear if he will attempt a run again in 2026 when a new Republican candidate is expected to step in the fray given Republican Gov. Bill Lee cannot seek reelection due to Tennessee’s gubernatorial term limits.
Green’s decision to retire from Congress makes him the fourth GOP committee leader that will not seek reelection in 2024, as he joins House Financial Services Chairman Patrick McHenry (R-NC), House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairwoman Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-TX) who have previously announced retirement plans.
The Tennessee Republican’s seat, however, appears to be marked for a Republican replacement as nonpartisan election handicapper; the Cook Political Report rated his district “solid Republican.”
