US Reps. Green and Kustoff avoid Tennessee primaries after GOP removes opponents from ballot

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee U.S. Reps. Mark Green and David Kustoff will no longer face opponents in the August primary after state Republican Party officials removed their opponents from the ballot due to challenges over their status as “bona fide” party members.

Caleb Stack, who filed to run against Green, and George Flinn, who was set to face Kustoff, were removed from the ballot. So was Joe Doctora, one of the Republicans who ran for the seat held by U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais. DesJarlais still has two other Republican primary opponents.

With those decisions, six Tennessee Republican congressional members won’t have primary opponents. Reps. Chuck Fleischmann, Tim Burchett, Diana Harshbarger and John Rose were already set to advance through party primaries. Republicans hold eight of Tennessee’s nine U.S. House seats. Each faces Democratic opposition in November.

Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, meanwhile, will face one less opponent in August. Cybersecurity expert Tom Guarente withdrew from the race, meaning Ogles will go head-to-head in August with Nashville Metro Council member Courtney Johnston.

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