Trump-backed Matt Van Epps wins Tennessee GOP primary, eyes December victory to keep seat red

Trump-backed candidate wins Tennessee

Matt Van Epps, a former Tennessee official under Governor Bill Lee, secured a decisive victory in the Republican primary for the special election to fill the seat vacated by U.S. Representative Mark Green. His win was bolstered by a last-minute endorsement from President Donald Trump, which came after early voting ended but quickly reshaped the race.

Van Epps won over ten other contenders, with two, including state Representative Lee Reeves, suspending their campaigns after Trump’s endorsement and publicly backing him. “Thank you to the people of Middle and West Tennessee! Our Donald J. Trump-endorsed campaign won in a landslide tonight,” Van Epps wrote on social media. “Now, on to December 2nd! We’re going to win the general and keep this seat RED!”

The upcoming December 2 general election is seen as a key test of Trump’s influence and the appeal of his second-term agenda, especially among suburban Republicans. The district, one of three redrawn by GOP lawmakers in 2022 to strengthen Republican control, includes parts of Nashville, rural regions, and affluent suburbs. It has been a Republican stronghold, with Green winning by over 20 points in previous elections.

During the campaign, Van Epps leaned heavily on his military background as a lieutenant colonel in the Tennessee Army National Guard and a former Army Special Operations helicopter pilot. He also earned endorsements from Governor Bill Lee, former Congressman Green, and U.S. Representative Jim Jordan.

On the Democratic side, four candidates remain locked in a close contest. Among them are Representative Aftyn Behn, a social worker and advocate for women’s reproductive rights who has challenged Tennessee’s restrictive abortion laws, and Representative Vincent Dixie, a businessman and the first Black leader of a legislative caucus in state history. Dixie’s campaign video, filmed from a garbage truck, claimed “Washington has been piling up garbage for working families.” Representative Bo Mitchell has centred his campaign on expanding healthcare access, while consultant Darden Copeland has emphasised his private-sector experience.

The 7th Congressional District, spanning 14 counties along the Kentucky and Alabama borders, includes rural areas, parts of Nashville, and the Fort Campbell military base. Outside groups poured over $3.1 million into the race, nearly all backing Republicans.

Of Tennessee’s nine congressional seats, eight are currently held by Republicans , a reflection of the state’s political shift following 2022 redistricting that fractured Nashville’s Democratic vote base.

(With AP Inputs)