Matt Van Epps
American politician (born 1983)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Matthew Robert Van Epps[1] (born March 29, 1983) is an American politician and former Army officer serving as the U.S representative for Tennessee's 7th congressional district since December 2025. A member of the Republican Party, he was elected in the 2025 special election.[2] He previously served as the commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services from 2024 to 2025.[3][4] He was sworn in on December 4, 2025.[5]
Matt Van Epps | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2026 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee's 7th district | |
| Assumed office December 4, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Mark Green |
| Tennessee Commissioner of General Services | |
| In office September 17, 2024 – June 10, 2025 | |
| Governor | Bill Lee |
| Preceded by | Christi Branscom |
| Succeeded by | Jeff Holmes |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Matthew Robert Van Epps March 29, 1983 Ohio, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Meg Wrather (m. 2023) |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | United States Military Academy (BS) University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (MPA) |
| Signature | .png){kind=small} |
| Website | House website Campaign website |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | |
| Years of service | 2005–2015 2015–present (guard) |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit | 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Air Medal |
Early life and education
Matthew Robert Van Epps was born on March 29, 1983. He graduated from Mentor High School in Mentor, Ohio, where he played baseball, football, and was a member of the National Honor Society.[6] After leaving the Army, Van Epps obtained a master's degree in public administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.[7][8]
Military service
Van Epps graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2005 and commissioned into the Army as an aviation officer, serving on active duty for ten years. He currently serves as a lieutenant colonel in the Tennessee Army National Guard. During his military career, he was awarded the Air Medal with "V" device, the Bronze Star, and the Meritorious Service Medal.[3][9]
Political career
Van Epps was appointed commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services by Governor Bill Lee, serving from 2024 to 2025.[3] On June 10, 2025, he resigned from his post to run in the 2025 special election for Tennessee's 7th congressional district, following the resignation of U.S. representative Mark Green.[10]
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
2025 special election
Shortly after announcing his campaign, Van Epps received endorsements from both Green and Governor Lee.[9][11] The 7th district seat, considered a solid Republican district by the Cook Political Report, covers much of Middle Tennessee, including Clarksville, portions of Nashville, and western Williamson County.[11]
In October 2025, President Donald Trump endorsed Van Epps in the Republican primary for the 7th district, describing him as a "MAGA warrior" and a "combat-decorated Army helicopter pilot."[11] Trump's endorsement came four days before the primary election and was followed by the withdrawal of state representative Lee Reeves, who publicly suspended his campaign and endorsed Van Epps.[12]
The Republican primary initially featured 11 candidates, including state representatives Jody Barrett, Gino Bulso, and Reeves, who were considered frontrunners before the endorsement. Following Trump's announcement, most outside spending in the race focused on Van Epps and Barrett.[11][12]
Van Epps won the Republican primary with 51.6% of the vote on October 7, 2025,[13][14] and defeated the Democratic nominee Aftyn Behn in the December 2 special election, with 53.9% of the popular vote.[2]
2026
Van Epps is seeking re-election to a full term.[15]
Tenure
Van Epps was sworn into office on December 4, 2025.[16]
On December 9, 2025, Van Epps voted to pass the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025. The act passed overwhelmingly in the chamber, passing in a vote of 399–5.[17] The act extends federal payments to rural counties to support schools, roads, and local services.[18]
Committee assignments
For the 119th Congress: H.Res. 940
Political positions
Economic and fiscal policy
Van Epps is a self-described "fiscal hawk" and conservative Republican whose platform aligns with the "America First" agenda.[20][21]
During the 2025 campaign, Van Epps supported the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a 2025 reconciliation package that extends tax cuts from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, implements welfare reforms, and increases funding for border security.[22][23]
National security and immigration
Citing his background as a combat-decorated pilot, Van Epps supports a "Peace Through Strength" foreign policy and has advocated for a robust defense budget.[24] On immigration, he supports the completion of the U.S.–Mexico border wall and has called for the deportation of undocumented immigrants with criminal records.[25][26]
Government reform
Van Epps has been critical of "woke" ideologies within the federal bureaucracy and the military.[27] He supports broad deregulation to stimulate small business growth and has called for a reduction in the size of the federal workforce.[28]
Education
Van Epps supports school choice and federal policies that allow education funding to follow the student to private or charter schools.[29][30]
Healthcare
Van Epps has called for reforms to the healthcare system aimed at reducing the cost of prescription drugs through increased market competition.[31] He supports state-level reforms to Medicaid to increase program efficiency and has emphasized a focus on "world-class care" for military veterans.[32] Van Epps has consistently maintained that market-driven solutions and reducing federal bureaucracy are the primary methods for improving healthcare access and affordability.[33]
Second Amendment
Van Epps identifies as a defender of the Second Amendment and opposes federal measures for stricter gun control.[34]
Personal life
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Matt Van Epps | 19,006 | 51.56% | |
| Republican | Jody Barrett | 9,337 | 25.33% | |
| Republican | Gino Bulso | 4,005 | 10.86% | |
| Republican | Lee Reeves (withdrawn) | 1,929 | 5.23% | |
| Republican | Mason Foley | 1,022 | 2.77% | |
| Republican | Stewart Parks | 595 | 1.61% | |
| Republican | Jason Knight | 381 | 1.03% | |
| Republican | Stuart Cooper | 239 | 0.65% | |
| Republican | Tres Wittum | 133 | 0.36% | |
| Republican | Joe Leurs | 122 | 0.33% | |
| Republican | Adolph Dagan | 93 | 0.25% | |
| Total votes | 36,862 | 100.00% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Matt Van Epps | 97,034 | 53.90% | −5.60 | |
| Democratic | Aftyn Behn | 81,109 | 45.06% | +7.01 | |
| Independent | Jon Thorp | 932 | 0.52% | N/A | |
| Independent | Terri Christie | 610 | 0.34% | N/A | |
| Independent | Bobby Dodge | 198 | 0.11% | N/A | |
| Independent | Robert Sutherby | 129 | 0.07% | N/A | |
| Total votes | 180,012 | 100.00% | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
