Rep. Judd Matheny: I’ll run for Diane Black’s congressional seat if she runs for governor

State Rep. Judd Matheny tells Tennessee Star that he’s “100 percent in the race for Tennessee’s 6th Congressional District” – if incumbent Republican Diane Black runs for governor instead of seeking reelection.

Black (R-TN), who currently represents the 6th Congressional District, is considered likely to enter the race for the Republican nomination for governor in 2018. Rumors abound as to when that might happen, but the consensus is that if she decides to run, she will need to make the announcement some time between July and September.

… “If Diane Black does not run for governor, I will not run for the 6th Congressional district seat, and will instead for re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives,” Matheny said.

First elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2002, Matheny has long been a champion of conservative causes in the Tennessee General Assembly.

Matheny was one of 35 Republican members of the House of Representatives who voted against Governor’ Haslam’s gas tax increase in the critical House vote in April where the bill passed by a 60 to 37 margin.

Note: State Sen. Mark Green, who has bowed out of the governor’s race saying he’s inclined toward seeking a position in Washington, is another potential candidate for the 6th District seat (Previous post HERE). As chairman of the House Budget Committee, Black is currently trying to come up with a federal budget plan — and having lots of problems because of Republican infighting, according to a review of the situation today in Politico.  As previously noted, she apparently will have to resign as a committee chairman once she announces as a candidate for governor.