Trump’s political weight was tested in the 7th district of Tennessee

The immense political influence of President Donald Trump in republican appointment races faces a test Tuesday in a special election primary of the crowded and competitive GOP for a vacant siege in the Congress in Tennessee.

The main elections come after Trump at the end of last week approved one of the 11 republican candidates in the running to complete the headquarters of the 7th district of the Tennessee Congress, who was canceled by the GOP representative, Mark Green, who resigned from his duties in June to hold a private sector position.

Trump approved Matt Van Epps, a former commissioner of the Tennessee General Services Department, in an area that also includes representatives of the Jody Barrett State, Gino Bulso and Lee Reeves.

This member of the Republican Congress resigns from Congress, further reducing a fragile majority of the GOP

President Donald Trump is making gestures as he gets on the Air Force One with First Lady Melania Trump at the Naval Station of Norfolk Chambers Field in Norfolk, Virginia, Sunday, October 5, 2025. (Alex Brandon / AP Photo)

The president’s approval, even if it came after the early vote in the competition, will probably be the main event in shaping the primary force test.

The race among the main GOP contenders has turned into a loyalty test towards Trump, and with the approval of the president, Reeves suspended his campaign and supported Van Epps.

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“Matt knows the wisdom and courage necessary to defend our country, support our incredible soldiers / veterans and ensure peace by force,” said Trump in a statement.

Republican candidate Matt Van Epps was approved last week by President Donald Trump, before the GOP primary on Tuesday during a special election in the 7th district of the Tennessee Congress. (Thanks to the Matt van Epps campaign)

Van Epps, who was also approved by Governor Green and Republican Bill Lee, described Trump’s support “an incredible honor”.

And on the eve of the primary, the president joined Van Eppps for a tele-ray who was co-organized by the outside group of the Group for Growth, who also supported Van Epps.

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Trump carried the district, which is located in the center and west of Tennessee and extends from Kentucky to Alabama, about 20 points in the presidential election last year.

A special election takes place in the 7th district of the Tennessee Congress to fill the seat left vacant when the republican representative Mark Green resigned from the American house in June to take a job in the private sector. (AP photo / J. Scott Applewhite, file)

Van Epps, lieutenant-colonel of the National Guard of the Tennessee Army and former army helicopter pilot, is also supported by the republican representative of the Jim Jordan Chamber of Ohio.

But Barrett, who praises that he is the “representative of the most conservative state in the history of Tennessee”, has the support of the political arm of the House Freedom Caucus, who passed heavily in the primary race.

State representative Jody Barrett, republican candidate for the Tennessee special electoral campaign in the 7th district of the State Congress, expressed during a political forum on Monday, September 8, 2025. (AP photo / George Walker IV)

Four great democrats present themselves for the appointment of their party. They are representatives of the state Vincent Dixie, Aftyn Behn, Bo Mitchell and the businessman Darden Copeland.

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Tuesday primary winners will compete in a general election on December 2.