Congresswoman Diane Black announced that she will be running for Governor of Tennessee.
NASHVILLE — Fresh off the heels of helping pass the nation's first tax reform overhaul in decades, U.S. Rep. Diane Black is set to resign from her post on the powerful House Budget Committee.
Black, R-Tenn., made the announcement Wednesday.
"It has been an honor to serve as chairman of the House Budget Committee, working alongside members this year to recommend responsible and balanced policies for building a better America," Black said in a statement.
More: Rep. Diane Black, launching gubernatorial bid, not stepping down as budget chair
Black, who announced in August she is running for governor of Tennessee in 2018, said she plans to remain in Congress.
She said she will resign from the budget post once a successor is chosen.
A staunch conservative from Sumner County, Tenn., Black has served in Congress since 2011, where she has steadily risen in the ranks.
In February, she became the first female chairman of the House Budget Committee after then-U.S. Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., was appointed secretary of Health and Human Services.
Before heading to D.C., Black served three terms in the Tennessee House followed by six years in the state Senate.
More: House GOP budget blueprint sets stage for deficit reduction, tax reform
Black, who has frequently supported President Trump, has spent the early part of her gubernatorial run touting her role in Congress while occasionally criticizing Republicans in Nashville, calling them “too weak or too meek.”
Remaining in Congress could put her in the precarious position of being critical of politicians in the Volunteer State while also trying to avoid the negative views Tennesseans have of Congress.
A Vanderbilt University poll released earlier this month found 23% of those surveyed approved of Congress.
Black’s resignation from the budget committee will give her more time to tour the state in support of her bid for governor without facing the constraints of a busy committee calendar while also opening up more time for fundraising.
But the move could be a gambit for Black, who as budget chairman has gotten free media attention while frequently appearing on national television in recent months.
More: Budget Committee OKs Obamacare repeal over objections from conservatives
Although she is planning to remain in Congress during the 2018 gubernatorial race, Black is the second gubernatorial candidate to resign from a post while seeking the Republican nomination.
In September, Mae Beavers resigned from the state Senate, triggering a special election.
Aside from Beavers and Black, three other Republicans are vying for the nomination in next year's August primary.
Meanwhile, former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and state House Minority Leader Craig Fitzhugh are seeking the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.
Follow Joel Ebert on Twitter: @joelebert29