Matt
Van Epps
Republican U.S. Representative for Tennessee's 7th District; West Point graduate and Army veteran first elected in a 2025 special election.
- sources
- 13
- positions
- 10
- endorsements
- 25
Background
Matt Van Epps is the Republican U.S. Representative for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District, a seat he has held since December 2025 after winning a special election. 1221
Before entering Congress, Van Epps served ten years on active duty as an Army aviator and continued service in the Tennessee Army National Guard. He later worked as a consultant and senior vice president of operations at Main Street Health, then held several appointed roles in Tennessee state government, including deputy chief operating officer in the Governor's Office and positions in the Departments of Transportation and Veterans Services. 213
Governor Bill Lee appointed Van Epps as commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services, effective October 1, 2024, before Van Epps launched his congressional campaign. 13 He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 2
Van Epps lives in Nashville and is the incumbent candidate in Tennessee's 7th District in the November 3, 2026 general election. 2320
At a glance
- Party
- Republican · Incumbent
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 7, Tennessee
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- U.S. Representative for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District
- Website
- mattfortn.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 10endorsementVan Epps appears at Trump's Clarksville rally, touts military service and border security
President Trump held a rally in Clarksville. Van Epps appeared and beforehand said Trump's visit 'is going to energize our base.' At the event, Van Epps spoke about his military service, border security, and 'peace comes through strength.' This was a campaign support event, not a new endorsement announcement.
Trump to hold rally in Clarksville on Saturday: Live updates - Yahoo · Oct 10, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 9filingRep. Van Epps introduces STORK Act to expand HSA childbirth savings benefits
Van Epps introduced the STORK Act, described in a press release as expanding health savings account benefits related to childbirth expenses.
Press Release: Rep. Matt Van Epps Introduces STORK Act to Expand HSA Childbirth Savings Benefits | Stock News · Oct 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 2debateNeither Van Epps nor Copeland agreed to debate in Tennessee's 7th District race
NewsChannel 5 reported that neither candidate said they wanted to participate in a debate. Coverage also noted Trump as a Van Epps endorser but did not establish a new endorsement date.
Candidates clash over ideology in Tennessee’s 7th District race · Oct 2, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 1pollCampaign-sponsored poll shows Copeland leading Van Epps 46–44 in District 7
A poll released by Copeland's campaign showed Copeland ahead 46% to 44% after respondents heard both candidates' biographies. Among those who already knew both candidates, Copeland led 57–35. Pollster, sample size, and margin of error were not reported; figures should be treated as campaign-sponsored polling with important methodological details unavailable.
Incumbent Van Epps battles centrist Copeland in District 7 ... · Oct 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 16filingRep. Van Epps introduces SHIELD For Victims Act on domestic violence intervention
Van Epps introduced the SHIELD For Victims Act, targeting a domestic-violence intervention program.
Press Release: Rep. Matt Van Epps Introduces SHIELD For Victims Act on Domestic Violence Intervention Program | Stock News · Sep 16, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 16newsVan Epps and Rep. Betty McCollum introduce bipartisan Critical Materials Future Act
The bill would authorize a Department of Energy pilot to support U.S. critical-material processing using financing tools including contracts for differences and advanced market commitments. Van Epps stated: 'Relying on foreign sources for our critical mineral supply is gambling with both our economic and national security.'
Van Epps, McCollum Introduce Critical Materials Future Act · Sep 16, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- Kelly Keisling officialTennessee State Representative; listed on Van Epps's campaign endorsement page. No individual endorsement date provided. mattfortn.com
- Lee Reeves officialState representative and former Republican primary opponent who endorsed Van Epps after suspending his own campaign in October 2025. This was an endorsement in the 2025 special-election contest, not a separately dated 2026 endorsement. tba.org
- Robert Nash officialDistrict Attorney; listed on Van Epps's campaign endorsement page. No individual endorsement date provided. mattfortn.com
- Wes Golden officialCounty Mayor; listed on Van Epps's campaign endorsement page. No individual endorsement date provided. mattfortn.com
- Jack McCall officialCounty Mayor; listed on Van Epps's campaign endorsement page. No individual endorsement date provided. mattfortn.com
- Mike Van Dyke officialSheriff; listed on Van Epps's campaign endorsement page. No individual endorsement date provided. mattfortn.com
- Johnny Garrett officialTennessee State Representative; listed on Van Epps's campaign endorsement page. No individual endorsement date provided. mattfortn.com
- Ray Crouch officialDistrict Attorney; listed on Van Epps's campaign endorsement page. No individual endorsement date provided. mattfortn.com
- Bob Rial officialCounty Mayor; listed on Van Epps's campaign endorsement page. No individual endorsement date provided. mattfortn.com
- John Isbell officialCounty Mayor; listed on Van Epps's campaign endorsement page. No individual endorsement date provided. mattfortn.com
- Bill Anderson officialCounty Mayor; listed on Van Epps's campaign endorsement page. No individual endorsement date provided. mattfortn.com
- Tim Eads officialSheriff; listed on Van Epps's campaign endorsement page. No individual endorsement date provided. mattfortn.com
- Eric Craddock officialSheriff; listed on Van Epps's campaign endorsement page. No individual endorsement date provided. mattfortn.com
- William Slater officialTennessee State Representative; listed on Van Epps's campaign endorsement page. No individual endorsement date provided. mattfortn.com
- Mary Littleton officialTennessee State Representative; listed on Van Epps's campaign endorsement page. No individual endorsement date provided. mattfortn.com
- Aron Maberry officialTennessee State Representative; listed on Van Epps's campaign endorsement page. No individual endorsement date provided. mattfortn.com
- Sabi 'Doc' Kumar officialTennessee State Representative; listed on Van Epps's campaign endorsement page. No individual endorsement date provided. mattfortn.com
- Michael Lankford officialTennessee State Representative; listed on Van Epps's campaign endorsement page. No individual endorsement date provided. mattfortn.com
- Donald Trump officialPresident Trump endorsed Van Epps for reelection, stating 'I am proud to, once again, endorse the GREAT Congressman … Matt Van Epps' in support of his 2026 re-election campaign. axios.com · May 14, 2026
- Bill Powers officialTennessee State Senator; listed on Van Epps's campaign endorsement page as part of a wave of endorsements reported May 14, 2026. mattfortn.com · May 14, 2026
- Ferell Haile officialTennessee State Senator; listed on Van Epps's campaign endorsement page as part of a wave of endorsements reported May 14, 2026. mattfortn.com · May 14, 2026
- Bill Lee officialTennessee Governor Bill Lee is listed on Van Epps's campaign endorsement page; Axios reported this as part of a wave of state and local endorsements on May 14, 2026. axios.com · May 14, 2026
- Kerry Roberts officialTennessee State Senator; listed on Van Epps's campaign endorsement page as part of a wave of endorsements reported May 14, 2026. mattfortn.com · May 14, 2026
- Ken Yager officialTennessee State Senator; listed on Van Epps's campaign endorsement page as part of a wave of endorsements reported May 14, 2026. mattfortn.com · May 14, 2026
- Club for Growth PAC organizationClub for Growth PAC endorsed Van Epps on October 3, 2025, during the 2025 special-election cycle, predating the 2026 general-election campaign. clubforgrowth.org · Oct 3, 2025
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $2.30M
- Spent
- $2.09M
- Cash on hand
- $208K
As of Jul 17, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H6TN07161(opens in a new tab)
Sources 13
- [1] Trump to hold rally in Clarksville on Saturday: Live updates - Yahoo(opens in a new tab) Oct 10, 2026
- [2] Press Release: Rep. Matt Van Epps Introduces STORK Act to Expand HSA Childbirth Savings Benefits | Stock News(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [3] Where Matt Stands on the Issues(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
- [4] TBA Law Blog - Tennessee Bar Association(opens in a new tab) Oct 7, 2026
- [5] Community Endorsements(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
- [6] Candidates clash over ideology in Tennessee’s 7th District race(opens in a new tab) Oct 2, 2026
- [7] Incumbent Van Epps battles centrist Copeland in District 7 ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 1, 2026
- [8] Matt Van Epps(opens in a new tab) Sep 17, 2026
- [9] Press Release: Rep. Matt Van Epps Introduces SHIELD For Victims Act on Domestic Violence Intervention Program | Stock News(opens in a new tab) Sep 16, 2026
- [10] Van Epps, McCollum Introduce Critical Materials Future Act(opens in a new tab) Sep 16, 2026
- [11] Matt Van Epps(opens in a new tab) Sep 2, 2026
- [12] Update From My Office - IQ Connect(opens in a new tab) Jun 12, 2026
- [13] Scoop: Trump endorses Rep. Matt Van Epps' reelection campaign(opens in a new tab) May 14, 2026