Liberty Whiskers joins Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District special election
A new contender has officially entered the race to replace outgoing U.S. Rep. Mark Green in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District—and he’s a raccoon.
Liberty Whiskers, a self-described “trash-fed patriot and crypto pioneer,” announced his candidacy Tuesday morning from the back of a dumpster outside a Franklin Sonic Drive-In. Clad in a navy suit with an American flag lapel pin, Liberty delivered prepared remarks to a crowd of confused onlookers, several possums, and at least one freelance journalist.
“Tennessee doesn’t need another career politician,” Liberty said, gripping the mic with tiny paws. “It needs someone who knows how to survive in chaos. I’ve lived in your trash. I’ve fought off Animal Control. I’m the candidate we need to send to DC to respond to these trash times.”
Green announced Sunday that he would resign from Congress effective July 4, citing a desire to return to private life after securing key votes in the House on federal budget negotiations. Under state law, Gov. Bill Lee will set the date for a special election to fill the seat. A primary is expected in late summer, with the general election to follow in early fall.
Known for late-night scavenging and libertarian leanings
Liberty Whiskers, who first rose to regional notoriety after being filmed stealing a Mountain Dew can from a recycling bin in Columbia, has run an informal campaign for years under the slogan “Trash. Freedom. Representation.” His official entry into the race comes as prominent Republicans—including Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance Commissioner Matt VanEpps—are weighing bids for the safely red district.
Liberty’s platform includes a return to the gold standard, the legalization of raccoon ownership, trash equity for rural families, and the formal adoption of his self-minted cryptocurrency, Clawcoin. He also supports defunding Animal Control and expanding nighttime trash access rights.
“If you don’t know what it’s like to fight a coyote over half a Big Mac, you don’t understand working Tennesseans,” he said.
The Whiskers campaign has also teased upcoming endorsements from the Sewer Cat Coalition and a Nashville-based anti-chip possum PAC.
District details and race timeline
Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District covers a large swath of middle and western Tennessee, including parts of Williamson, Maury, Montgomery, and Dickson counties. The seat has been held by Republicans since 1983 and is expected to remain in GOP control—though Liberty’s campaign, in his words, is “post-partisan, pro-trash.”
While it remains unclear if Liberty is legally eligible to serve in Congress under the U.S. Constitution, his team argues that “he’s at least more qualified than several sitting members.”
A representative for the Tennessee Secretary of State declined to comment on Liberty’s filing status, citing “species ambiguity.”