Chattanooga City Councilman Andraé McGary said Tuesday he won’t seek the congressional seat now held by U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, citing “wrong timing.”
“No. 1, with the birth of my new son, I think it’s very important for me to consider where my family is,” Mr. McGary said. “Two, I think there are a lot of great things happening in my district — I’m over the downtown district. I fear if I were to run for Congress, it would jeopardize my effectiveness.”
Mr. McGary, 30, would have been the only Democrat officially in the race.
Another Democrat, Brad Parish of Kingston, Tenn., has formed an exploratory committee.
Mr. McGary said he considered entering the contest because he was “sickened” by the thought of former Tennessee Republican Party Chairwoman Robin Smith taking the seat. He specifically called campaigning the state GOP did during last year’s presidential race “antics.” “They are uncalled for,” he said.