Tennessee Special Election: Van Epps Wins 7th District

It’s official: the votes are counted, and the race is wrapped. Republican newcomer Matt Van Epps won the hotly watched Tennessee special election for the 7th Congressional District. Voters across Middle and West Tennessee picked the local businessman, keeping the seat red and sending a new face to Washington.

Van Epps Takes Tennessee’s 7th District

The Associated Press called it late Tuesday night. Van Epps beat Democrat Dr. Amelia Hayes, a university professor, after a campaign that hammered home pocketbook issues and federal spending. He ran as the outsider, fed up with the usual D.C. routine, promising a business-first way of doing things. His victory speech? Short and direct. He talked about pulling people together and getting to work. He thanked his volunteers and said he’d represent everyone in the district, no matter how they voted.

This race happened because longtime Congressman Mark Green retired suddenly, citing health reasons. That left the seat open. The 7th District stretches from the suburbs south and west of Nashville into rural areas. It’s been a solid Republican seat for years. Still, Democrats pushed hard, hoping growing suburbs might shift things their way. They bet that Hayes’s focus on healthcare and schools would draw independents. Turns out, not enough.

Why This Race Turned Heads

Let’s be real. This wasn’t just about one seat. National groups watched every move like hawks, treating it as a test run for next year. For Republicans, Van Epps’s win says their message on inflation, the border, and cutting waste still lands. For Democrats, it stings. Even with money, a strong resume, and a decent ground game, winning in right-leaning districts is still tough.

For folks living in the 7th, this means they’ve got a representative who matches the district’s conservative streak. Expect Van Epps to back lower taxes and fewer rules. Big picture, his win helps keep the GOP’s narrow edge in the House intact. No seat flipped, no margin squeezed. It’s a local race with national ripples, and both parties are taking notes for the fights ahead.

The Election By The Numbers

• Final count: Matt Van Epps around 55% of the vote, Dr. Hayes about 44%.
• Turnout was strong for a special election—nearly 40% of registered voters showed up. That’s a lot of energy from both sides.
• Van Epps crushed it in rural counties, winning some by 30 points or more. That cushion blocked Hayes’s gains elsewhere.
• Hayes did well in the fast-growing suburbs of Williamson County, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the red wave in the rest of the district.
• Even with national Democratic PACs spending big in the final two weeks, Van Epps’s local ground game and ads hit harder.

What’s Next for Congressman-Elect Van Epps?

Now comes the hard part. Van Epps heads to D.C. to get sworn in within weeks. First up: opening his offices, hiring staff, and getting services running for the district. He’ll likely aim for committees that matter back home—think Agriculture or Small Business. And here’s the kicker: there’s barely any time to settle in. He’ll be back on the trail soon for the full term.

Voters will be watching closely. Can he stick to his promises? He’ll face quick votes on spending and big national issues. How he handles the next year will decide whether he locks down the seat or invites a tough challenger. For a wider look at the current House dynamics, check this Related Source for context on the world he’s walking into.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Matt Van Epps? A Tennessee businessman and first-time candidate who just won the special election for the 7th District. He ran on a conservative plan focused on the economy and fiscal responsibility. Why was this Tennessee special election so important? It was treated like a test of what messages work right now—especially on inflation and government policy—before next year’s bigger races. How does this result affect the U.S. House of Representatives? It keeps the GOP majority where it is. Democrats didn’t flip the seat, so the current balance of power stays the same.

Van Epps’s win isn’t a shocker, but the margin says a lot. In places like Tennessee’s 7th, kitchen-table issues and classic conservative themes still carry weight. Celebration will be quick. The job—and the next campaign—start now.