Trump Endorsed
Incumbent
Matt Van Epps
Incumbent Republican candidate for U.S. House in Tennessee
$899.07
NOV 7, 2026
General Election
Voters choose the office holder.
Live Odds
Current prediction-market probability for the candidate, updated as market prices change.
Matt Van Epps is trading at 93% to win the TN-07 House winner? on prediction markets.
Candidate Overview
Key details about the candidate’s background, party, office sought and current campaign.
Current roleU.S. Representative
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
GenderMale
LocationTennessee
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BackgroundU.S. Representative
EducationUnited States Military Academy at West Point (graduated 2005)
Notable personal detailsMatthew Robert Van Epps is a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee's 7th congressional district. He is a U.S. Military Academy at West Point graduate and served as an Army aviation officer, including combat deployments, before entering public service and politics. He ran for and won the TN-07 seat in a December 2025 special election and maintains an active campaign committee for the 2025–2026 cycle.
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Political Positions
Economy & Taxes
Matt Van Epps supports tax cuts (including extending prior tax cuts), elimination of the estate/death tax, a Balanced Budget Amendment, and reducing omnibus spending and earmarks. He describes himself as a fiscal hawk who favors less regulation and smaller government role in the economy.
Healthcare
Opposes expansive government-run health programs and supports Republican-led reforms that reduce federal Medicaid funding and expand work requirements; has expressed support for the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBBA) and Medicaid reforms.
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Immigration & Border
Supports stronger border security measures including completion of the U.S.–Mexico border wall and prioritizing deportation of undocumented immigrants; favors restricting immigration to prioritize high-skilled legal entrants and stricter enforcement at the southern border.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports protecting unborn life and opposes taxpayer funding for abortion; pledges to defend the sanctity of life and to oppose pro‑abortion policies while aligning with conservative leadership.
Climate & Energy
Supports unleashing American energy and energy dominance, emphasizing job creation and economic growth while advancing a market-driven, America First energy agenda that prioritizes fossil fuel production and energy independence.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate positions himself as a defender of the Second Amendment and opposes federal restrictions on lawful gun ownership, emphasizing the right of individuals to protect themselves. Campaign materials and questionnaire responses describe defending the Second Amendment and state that the federal government should not prevent people from protecting themselves, their families, or their property.
Latest News
Matt Van Epps is in the news after winning Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District special election, defeating Democrat Aftyn Behn with nearly 54% of the vote. The result is being watched as a turnout test for Republicans ahead of the 2026 midterms, especially to see whether Trump-aligned voters show up when Trump is not on the ballot. The race is also being used as an early signal of Republican strength amid broader concerns about turnout and political headwinds.
Endorsements
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