Particle.news
Download on the App Store
7 ARTICLES
·
1h ago

Trump Backs Matt Van Epps, Recasting Tennessee’s 7th District GOP Primary

The late nod vaulted the former state official to frontrunner status, prompting two rivals to suspend campaigns, triggering a rush of super PAC spending.

The state flag of Tennessee stands outside the office of Tennessee's 7th Congressional District in Washington, Sept. 2, 2025, which has a seat that became vacant following the resignation of Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn. on July 20. (AP Photo/Robert Yoon)
This combination photo of candidates to replace Republican Rep. Mark Green in a Tennessee special election for the U.S. Seventh Congressional District shows Republican Jody Barrett, from top left, Democrat Aftyn Behn, Republican Gino Bulso, Democrat Darden Copeland, Democrat Vincent Dixie, Republican Mason Foley, and bottom row from left, Republican Joe Leurs, Democrat Bo Mitchell and Republicans Lee Reeves, Matt Van Epps and Tres Wittum. (AP Photo)
Republican candidates for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District Matt Van Epps, Lee Reeves, Gino Bulso and Jody Barrett debate at CabaRay Showroom in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Sept. 5, 2025.
Matt Van Epps, the former commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services, is President Donald Trump's choice in the special election for the state's 7th District. (Courtesy Matt Van Epps for Congress/Facebook)

Overview

  • Voters in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District pick party nominees today, with the special general election set for Dec. 2 and polls closing at 7 p.m. CT.
  • President Trump endorsed Matt Van Epps on Friday after early voting ended, and Republicans Lee Reeves and Stuart Cooper suspended their campaigns and urged support for him, though their names remain on the ballot.
  • Van Epps entered Election Day with endorsements from former Rep. Mark Green, Gov. Bill Lee, and Rep. Jim Jordan, while Trump and Club for Growth planned a tele-rally on the eve of the vote.
  • Outside groups have spent millions in the race, with School Freedom Fund and Conservatives for American Excellence boosting Van Epps and targeting Jody Barrett, as House Freedom Action worked to aid Barrett.
  • Early voting totaled more than 36,000 ballots, including 18,203 Republicans and 17,825 Democrats, in a district that delivered roughly 20-point GOP margins in recent cycles.