Trump-Endorsed Matt Van Epps Wins GOP Primary for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District

Matt Van Epps, a former state official, has successfully secured the Republican nomination in the special election for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District House seat, as projected by NBC News. Van Epps, who received a significant endorsement from former President Donald Trump just last week, emerged victorious over ten other GOP contenders in a competitive primary held on Tuesday.

This win sets the stage for a special general election scheduled for December 2, where Van Epps will face Democratic nominee State Rep. Aftyn Behn. The 7th District, which includes areas ranging from affluent counties to some of the state’s poorest, an Army base, and parts of Nashville, has historically been a strong Republican territory; Trump carried the district by more than 60% in the last election cycle.

Van Epps, a lieutenant colonel in the Tennessee Army National Guard and a former active-duty combat pilot, campaigned on a platform focused on “security, opportunity and prosperity,” advocating for investments in infrastructure such as small nuclear reactors, broadband, and cellphone coverage. He also garnered early endorsements from former Rep. Mark Green, whose resignation created the current vacancy, along with Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.

On the Democratic side, State Rep. Aftyn Behn, a community organizer and licensed social worker, won her primary in a close contest. Behn, representing a deep-blue seat in Nashville, aims to mobilize voters under 45 and has highlighted her position as the only woman in the race, despite the district’s strong Republican leanings.

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