With the resignation of U.S. Congressman Mark Green becoming official on July 20, a pivotal community conversation is set to take place in North Nashville to shape the future of Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District. State Sen. Charlane Oliver will host ‘Flip the 7th!,’ a community forum on Sunday, July 27, from 3–5 pm at Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church, 2708 Jefferson Street.
Organized by Upstream Strategies, LLC, the event is designed to give constituents an opportunity to reflect, strategize, and discuss the qualities and priorities they want in their next representative, especially as the district heads toward a special election following Green’s early departure from Congress.
“Mark Green’s final vote in Congress was to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill, a cruel piece of legislation that guts healthcare, slashes vital food assistance, and leaves working families in Middle Tennessee behind,” said Sen. Oliver. “The timing is no coincidence. He cast a vote that hurts us, then resigned before facing the consequences. We’re not waiting on Washington or political insiders to decide our future. This is our opportunity to have meaningful conversations and shape the leadership we want for Congressional District 7.”
The event will feature speakers deeply involved in Tennessee’s political landscape, including:
- Odessa Kelly, 2022 Democratic nominee for Congressional District 7
- Tucker Karnes, 2024 campaign manager for Megan Barry for Congress
- Dakota Galban, chair, Davidson County Democratic Party
- Allie Phillips, chair, Montgomery County Democratic Party
- Ragan Grossman, chair, Williamson County Democratic Party
Unlike traditional political events, this forum is not a candidate debate. No declared or rumored candidates will speak. Instead, attendees will be encouraged to participate in an open audience ‘question and answer’ aimed at capturing the concerns and aspirations of voters across the district.
The forum comes at a critical political juncture. Rep. Green, a Republican from Clarksville, announced on July 4 that he would step down from Congress after the House votes on President Trump’s sweeping reconciliation bill, which includes deep cuts to Medicaid, food assistance, and educational programs. Green had narrowly won re-election last November and served as chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security.
His resignation leaves Republicans with a razor-thin 219–212 majority in the House and triggers a special election in Tennessee’s 7th District, which spans parts of Montgomery, Williamson, and Davidson counties. No date has been set yet for the election.
Green cited an unnamed opportunity in the private sector as the reason for his departure. “While I cannot give the details here, I will be doing something specifically designed to help America compete against the CCP [Chinese Communist Party], but this time in business,” he said.
His exit, however, has drawn sharp criticism from local and national Democratic leaders, who accuse him of abandoning his post after pushing through unpopular legislation. “This is the largest transfer of wealth from the working poor to the ultra-rich in American history,” said Sen. Oliver. “Donald Trump and the Republican Party have chosen Wall Street over Main Street, and working families are about to feel the pain in their wallets, their homes, and their hospitals.”
The July 27 forum is sponsored by Upstream, a new leadership development initiative founded by Sen. Oliver to train and support future candidates and campaign professionals across Tennessee.
With urgent issues like rural hospital closures, HBCU funding, and economic inequality at stake, organizers hope the event will empower residents to shape the next chapter of leadership in the 7th District.
The forum is free and open to the public. Interested participants can register at <www.upstreamtn.com/flip7>.
