Republican Jason Emert announced Wednesday he's a candidate for U.S. Rep. Jimmy Duncan's seat.
Emert, 33, of Blount County, ran against Eddie Smith in 2014 in the primary for the 13th Tennessee House District. Smith won by several hundred votes.
At the time Emert lived in Knoxville. Emert now lives in Louisville.
The 2nd District includes Knox, Blount and Loudon counties and stretches north to the state line in Claiborne County.
With his announcement, Emert joins Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, state Rep. Jimmy Matlock, Brad Fullington and Vito Sagliano as Republican candidates for the seat.
Democrats Joshua Williams and Renee Hoyos also are running.
As of Wednesday morning the Federal Election Commission showed no documents filed on behalf of Emert's candidacy.
The primary is in August 2018. The general election is in November 2018.
Duncan announced this summer he would not run to retain the seat he's held about 30 years.
