Rep. Jay Reidy, a Republican from Dixon, has officially announced his candidacy for a seat in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, which will soon be open due to U.S. Rep. Mark Greene’s departure.
Reidy, affiliated with Erin, has filed the necessary paperwork with the Federal Election Commission and plans to make a public announcement about his campaign this week.
Greene intends to vacate the position after endorsing President Donald Trump’s spending plan, and multiple candidates are gearing up for this year’s special election.
Reidy is among the Republican hopefuls and has expressed his desire to reduce federal bureaucracy and support Trump’s initiatives. He has previously provided testimony during a political corruption trial in April concerning former House Speaker Glenn Casada and his aide, Cade Koren.
Reflecting on his time in office, Reidy mentioned the federal government’s slow response to flood damage in Waverly, which resulted in 20 deaths in August 2021 and the destruction of two school buildings. While FEMA allocated $20 million for rebuilding, they required Waverly to resubmit paperwork that has stalled project progress.
Reidy also criticized the U.S. Department of Education’s estimated budget of $268 billion, suggesting Tennessee deserves about $2.6 billion, and raised concerns about environmental regulations affecting local farmland.
“The federal government really needs to step back from Tennessee’s affairs,” Reidy remarked, noting his involvement in various lawsuits against the Obama and Biden administrations.
Other Republican candidates for the position include former Tennessee General Services Commissioner Matt Van Epps, Springfield resident John Thorpe, and Clarksville’s Jason Knight.
Van Epps has recently unveiled his leadership team, which includes car dealer Magneet Lee Beeman and his wife Julie as co-chairs. Additionally, Alex Joyner, who managed Greene’s re-election efforts in 2022 and 2024, will act as campaign manager, alongside former Greene staff member Rachel Barrett handling financial matters.
So far, there has been no announcement from any Democratic candidates regarding the race.
