Mark Green's bid to unseat first-term Democratic Rep. Jay Johnson in 1998 was his first run for federal office. He was successful, winning with 54 percent of the vote. Green was re-elected in 2000 with 75 percent of the vote.
Green defeated Republican Andrew Becker of Green Bay and Wisconsin Green Party candidate Dick Kaiser of Sister Bay in the 2002 general election. Green received 73 percent of the vote.