U.S. Army veteran and former Lee administration official Matt Van Epps has been projected as the winner of the Republican special primary for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District. Decision Desk HQ called the race just 27 minutes after polls closed.
At 8:30 p.m., less than two hours after polls closed, unofficial election results published by the Tennessee Secretary of State’s office showed Van Epps with 15,389 votes, followed by State Representative Jody Barrett (R-Dickson) with 8,370 votes, and State Representative Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood) with 3,684 votes.
Decision Desk HQ projects Matt Van Epps to win the Republican Primary in Tennessee's 7th Congressional District.#DecisionMade: 8:27 pm ET pic.twitter.com/KGVD6zMzMW
— Decision Desk HQ (@DecisionDeskHQ) October 8, 2025
President Donald Trump endorsed Van Epps in his congressional bid, weighing in on the race last Friday. The president participated in a tele-rally for Van Epps on Monday.
The Club for Growth PAC, Governor Bill Lee, and other notable Republicans – including retired U.S. Rep. Mark Green and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH-04) – also endorsed Van Epps in the primary race.
Photo “Matt Van Epps” by Matt Van Epps.
“Thank you to the people of Middle and West Tennessee! Our [President Trump]-endorsed campaign won in a landslide tonight. Now, on to December 2nd! We’re going to win the general and keep this seat RED,” Van Epps’ campaign wrote in an X post shortly after 8:00 p.m. Tuesday.
Trump’s support of Van Epps in the primary race led to two Republican candidates – State Representative Lee Reeves (R-Franklin) and Nashville businessman Stuart Cooper – suspending their campaigns and endorsing Van Epps in the primary and general races.
Thank you to the people of Middle and West Tennessee! Our @realDonaldTrump-endorsed campaign won in a landslide tonight.
Now, on to December 2nd! We’re going to win the general and keep this seat RED!#MattforTN #TN7 #MAGA #AmericaFirst pic.twitter.com/MUP0ffpPz1
— Matt Van Epps for Congress (@MattForTN) October 8, 2025
Among those who congratulated Van Epps on his primary win was U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty, who wrote on X, “Congratulations to Matt Van Epps on his primary election win tonight in Tennessee’s 7th district. Matt is a West Point graduate, a decorated Army combat helicopter pilot, and an America First conservative.”
“We had a lot of great candidates run, but now it is time to get behind our nominee…and make sure he is sent to Washington to help defend President Trump’s agenda,” Hagerty added.
The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) also congratulated Van Epps on his primary win.
“Tennesseans just nominated a President Trump-endorsed conservative combat veteran pilot. Matt will deliver for Tennessee defending our values & backing the America First agenda,” the NRCC said.
Green called Van Epps’ victory on Tuesday “historic,” highlighting their shared service in Clarksville’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment—Van Epps as a Night Stalker helicopter pilot, and Green as a flight surgeon of the elite unit. He also noted that both are graduates of West Point.
Green said, “Tonight is historic on two levels. The first ever Night Stalker in Congress passed the torch to the second ever Night Stalker, and this is probably the first time a West Pointer has been followed by another West Pointer! Beat Navy”
“Proud of Matt and his team for running a good race,” Green added.
In the Democratic primary race, Decision Desk HQ projected State Representative Aftyn Behn (D-Nashville) as the winner at 8:24 p.m.
Decision Desk HQ projects Aftyn Behn to win the Democratic Primary in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District.#DecisionMade: 9:24 pm ET pic.twitter.com/ILoAXRnVbc
— Decision Desk HQ (@DecisionDeskHQ) October 8, 2025
Van Epps and Behn will now face off in the general election.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Matt Van Epps” by Matt Van Epps.
