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A last-minute endorsement from President Donald Trump helped propel Matt Van Epps to victory in Tennessee’s Republican primary for a vacant U.S. House seat on Tuesday.
Van Epps, a former Tennessee general services commissioner and decorated Army helicopter pilot, defeated eight opponents Tuesday to win the GOP nomination for the Nashville-area district left open by former Rep. Mark Green’s resignation. He will face Democratic state Rep. Aftyn Behn in the Dec. 2 special election.
Trump endorsed Van Epps days before the vote, calling him “a West Point Graduate, and Combat Decorated Army Helicopter Pilot” who has “the WISDOM and COURAGE required to Defend our Country.” The endorsement reshaped the race, prompting two candidates to drop out and shifting momentum decisively in Van Epps’ favor.
“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!” Van Epps posted to X after the election.
Van Epps also earned backing from Green, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, and Club for Growth President David McIntosh. Several former rivals who exited the race joined in supporting him.
The crowded Republican field included state Reps. Jody Barrett and Gino Bulso, businessman Adolph Agbeko Dagan, and former congressional candidate Tres Wittum, among others.
Green, who left Congress in July to return to the private sector, carried the district by a wide margin in 2022. The area remains solidly Republican, with Trump winning it by 22 points in 2020, positioning Van Epps as the strong favorite heading into December’s election.
Van Epps’ campaign focused on his military background and alignment with Trump’s America First agenda. He previously coordinated Tennessee’s COVID-19 response and served as general services commissioner under Lee.
The race carries high stakes for House Republicans, who hold a narrow 219-214 majority. A Van Epps victory would help bolster Speaker Mike Johnson’s slim margin in the chamber.
Van Epps faced a minor controversy after a complaint alleged he improperly wore his military uniform in campaign ads, a potential violation of Pentagon rules. Despite the claim, Republican leaders have rallied around him, framing the contest as a test of party unity ahead of the 2026 elections.