Songwriter Lee Thomas Miller dropped out of the 7th Congressional District race on Monday, one month and four days after announcing his candidacy for the Republican nomination.
“I looked forward to this race and the opportunity to change things that I think are broken. But as a husband and father it quickly became obvious that this campaign would require me to compromise far more of myself than I would ever be willing,” Miller said in a statement released by his campaign on Monday.
“So, I will end my campaign for U.S. House of Representatives while taking with me the desire to protect faith, family and freedome that I have always had. I will also go back to using my voice and experience to defend the American songwriter,” Miller added.
Miller’s abrupt departure from the race leaves State Senator Mark Green (R-Clarksville) as the only GOP candidate in the running to replace Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07), who is running for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by retiring Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN).
“Lee Thomas Miller is a great American who captures in song the emotions of life’s challenges,” Green told The Tennessee Star on Monday morning shortly after Miller’s announcement.
“I am hopeful that he will continue to help me address the issues near his heart that brought him into this race–like intellectual property rights. I deeply respect his willingness to step into the arena,” Green said of Miller.
You can read the full statement released by the Miller campaign on Monday here:
Lee Thomas Miller Ends Campaign for Congress in Tennessee’s 7th District
BRENTWOOD, TENN. – Conservative Republican congressional candidate Lee Thomas Miller announced today that he is ending his campaign for Congress in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District effective immediately. Miller issued the following statement:
“I am grateful to the friends and complete strangers who have supported my run for congress. I believe that citizens have the ability and right to help shape the direction of our nation. I also think that the people know better what is good for them than does the government.
My amazing wife endorsed this massive challenge under the one condition: that I run as myself without becoming somebody I am not. These are complicated times with complicated and emotional issues. These issues affect real people’s lives. Washington has forgotten this. I looked forward to this race and the opportunity to change things that I think are broken. But as a husband and father it quickly became obvious that this campaign would require me to compromise far more of myself than I would ever be willing.
So, I will end my campaign for U.S. House of Representatives while taking with me the same desire to protect faith, family and freedom that I have always had. I will also go back to using my voice and ex-perience to defend the American songwriter.”
And if you want a conservative Governor that actually believes in the 10th Amendment you need to support Mae Beavers!
What spectacularly wonderful news! Now, we have to see who the tepid conservatives/centrists will put forward to challenge in the Seventh District before the filing deadline because I can’t believe that they will give a conservative like Mark a free ride regarding an open seat. In the meantime, conservatives should direct all their efforts toward the election of CARR, BLACKBURN and MATHENY.