CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Eligible Tennessee residents wanting to vote in the upcoming Oct. 7 congressional special election primary must register to vote by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 8, to be eligible to cast a ballot.

Nineteen candidates – 11 Republicans, four Democrats and four independents – are running to replace Rep. Mark Green, a Republican who has represented U.S. House District 7 since 2019 and resigned July 20 to go back into the private sector.

“When you don’t vote, your voice will be overshadowed by those that do vote. In Tennessee, we want every eligible Tennessean to vote, but the first step is registering to vote,” said Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett in a press release. “This election will have national implications. If you have not registered or need to update your information, we encourage you to do so before the registration deadline.”

In Montgomery County, voter registration takes place at the Election Commission Office, 350 Pageant Lane, Suite 404. They’re open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

“If you would like to vote in that election and you’re not already registered, please come into the office by the 8th,” said Amanda Joslin, Montgomery County elections administrator. She said that if you can’t make it into the office, and you have a Tennessee driver’s license, you can register online through the Secretary of State’s voter registration system, GoVoteTN.gov, or the GoVoteTN app.

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“For the fourth year in a row, the State of Tennessee has been ranked No. 1 in election integrity,” said state Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins. “We want all eligible Tennesseans that register to vote and cast a ballot in this election to experience our secure elections and let their voices be heard.”

Voters can download a paper voter registration application at GoVoteTN.gov. Completed paper voter registration applications must be mailed to your local county election commission office or submitted in person. Mailed voter registrations must be postmarked by Sept. 8. Election Day registration is not available in Tennessee.

Early voting for the primary begins Wednesday, Sept. 17, and runs through Thursday, Oct. 2. For more information about early voting and other election information, visit the Montgomery County Election Commission website.

Who’s running for Congress, District 7

Here are the 15 candidates that will be on the ballots for Congress, District 7.

Republicans:

  • Jody Barrett: Dickson small-business owner and state House member.
  • Gino Bulso: A Brentwood trial lawyer and state House member.
  • Stuart Cooper: Franklin, with Flagler Technologies.
  • Adolph Agbéko Dagan: Clarksville veteran, minister and small business owner.
  • Mason Foley: Franklin, former staff member for U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell. Now with Main Street Health.
  • Jason Knight: Montgomery County commissioner and former Clarksville City Council member, small-business owner and military veteran.
  • Joe Leurs: Retired from Marines and Metro Nashville Police Department.
  • Stewart Parks: Nashville real estate agent.
  • Lee Reeves: Franklin state House member.
  • Matt Van Epps: Nashville former commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services, military veteran.
  • Tres Wittum: Former Tennessee Senate staff member.

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Democrats:

  • Aftyn Behn: Nashville social worker and state House member.
  • Darden Copeland: Nashville businessman.
  • Vincent Dixie: Nashville businessman and state House member.
  • Bo Mitchell: Bellevue state House member.

| MORE: 3 Democratic candidates for Congress tell Clarksville town hall how they can ‘flip this seat’

Independents:

  • Teresa “Terri” Christi
  • Bobby Dodge: Franklin
  • Robert James Sutherby
  • Jon Thorp: Springfield military veteran.

How election will work

For the Oct. 7 primary, voters will be able to select a candidate on the Republican ballot or on the Democratic ballot. No independents will be on either ballot.

For the Dec. 2 general election, voters will decide among the Republican primary winner, the Democratic primary winner and the four independent candidates. Voters must register by Nov. 3 for the general election. Early voting will be Nov. 12-26.

U.S. House District 7 covers the western portion of Middle Tennessee, spanning from the Kentucky state line to the Alabama state line. It includes Montgomery County and portions of Nashville/Davidson County and Williamson County.

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