Two combat veterans, Major General Jason Knight and John Thorpe, have announced they will run in the Special Republican primary to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of US/Rep. Mark Green. (Night photo: Montgomery County Commission, Thorpe photo: John Thorpe on TN-7 Facebook)

Two combat veterans are taking part in the race to replace Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Green, while former political operatives are considering running for a seat in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District.

Springfield resident John Thorpe and Clarksville Major General Jason Knight, a veteran of both the Iraq and Afghan campaign, announced they will be on the scene as Republicans.

A special election is set to take place for the seats after Greene said he would resign as soon as he voted for President Donald Trump’s budget plan this week.

They will join Tennessee Director Matt Van Epps, Tennessee, who reportedly announced their candidacy this week and left his post.

Additionally, Michael Lottfi, the American Associate State Director for Prosperity, said he is considering joining the race. Lotfi sparked rage among Tennessee lawmakers six years ago, and it turns out that former House Speaker Glenn Casada put him on the state’s salary as a political operative.

Thorpe, a US military officer on multiple job tours, has charged himself as an outsider in the political department under the “freedom reset” movement, which calls for “financial sanity,” term limits for Congress and bureaucrats and a full audit of government agencies.

Potential alternatives to the Tennessee US lawmakers’ green line-up

“This isn’t about filling up seats, it’s about flipping through the script,” Thorpe said in a statement. “For too long, Washington has served lobbyists rather than Tennessee. This is the moment when we choose a different kind of leadership. We value integrity towards Poland, accountability rather than party loyalty, and courage towards careerism.”

Thorpe admitted he had not voted for 24 years because he didn’t like candidates from either major political party, but said the children were “passed into a collapsed economy, a weaponized bureaucracy, and an integrated political class serving donors on behalf of voters.”

Knight, a Montgomery County commissioner and former Clarksville City Council member, served in the 101st Airborne division for nine years, said in Congress that “President Trump needs reinforcement” and “backup” was running.

“It’s clear that extreme unscathed minorities, from California outlaws to Congressional blockades, to far left governors like Gavin Newsom, are trying to stop President Trump and the first American policy he is fighting for,” Knight said in a statement.

Knight supported himself as a “stubborn constitutionalist and proven conservative” and to support his efforts to deport “criminals” without border security and permanent legal documents.

In a statement to Tennessee Lookout, Lotfi admitted he would become a “pretty flawed candidate,” but he said he was honest.

Lotfi said he would take part in the race if no candidates appear to cut unnecessary spending and try to return the federal government to its original “size and scope.”

“Voters want a bottom-up solution that empowers them. They want to regain their American dream,” he said.

Others considering running to the post are Republican Sen. Bill Powers of Clarksville, Republican Rep. Jody Barrett of Dixon, and former Republican Rep. Brandon Ogres of Brentwood. These mentions include House Speaker Cameron Sexton, state legislator Gino Bruso and Tennessee political operative Chris Berger.

On the democratic side, Nashville Rep. Vincent Dixie confirmed he was considering running.

“I’ve made a lot of support and calls from people I respected,” Dixie said. “I’m serious about running towards District 7. I’m sure this is what I want to do.”

Senator Sherlan Oliver told the watcher he is not interested in running Congress at this time.

“I take that very seriously,” Oliver said. “It’s not just an opportunity, it’s a life change. I’m honored that people think of me.”

What’s floating are former Nashville mayors Megan Barry and John Cooper, state legislator John Ray Clemons, former Tennessee State President Glenda Glover, and Darden Copeland, founder of Nashville-based land use company Calvert Street Group.

In a statement, Barry said, “Green has previously announced his resignation, so let’s see if he actually follows.

“I’ve spoken to my family and my advisors and I’ll make a decision when the time comes.”

Clemons told the watchers that Democrats must unite behind a single candidate, but they have not shown whether he will run or not.

State Sen. Beau Mitchell and state Sen. Jeff Yarbro, who are mentioned as potential candidates, did not respond to requests for comment from the observation deck.

(Holly McCall contributed to this story.)