Matt Van Epps

Matthew Robert Van Epps (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. He previously served as the commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services from 2024 to 2025. He was sworn in on December 4, 2025.

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. After leaving the Army, Van Epps obtained a master's degree in public administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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.

Political career Van Epps was appointed commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services by Governor Bill Lee, serving from 2024 to 2025.

U.S. House of Representatives Elections 2025 special election

Shortly after announcing his campaign, Van Epps received endorsements from both Green and Governor Lee. 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.

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. and defeated the Democratic nominee Aftyn Behn in the December 2 special election, with 53.9% of the popular vote.

Tenure

Van Epps was sworn into office on December 4, 2025.

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.

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.

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. 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.

Government reform Van Epps has been critical of "woke" ideologies within the federal bureaucracy and the military.

Education Van Epps supports school choice and federal policies that allow education funding to follow the student to private or charter schools.

Healthcare Van Epps has called for reforms to the healthcare system aimed at reducing the cost of prescription drugs through increased market competition. He supports state-level reforms to Medicaid to increase program efficiency and has emphasized a focus on "world-class care" for military veterans. Van Epps has consistently maintained that market-driven solutions and reducing federal bureaucracy are the primary methods for improving healthcare access and affordability.

Second Amendment Van Epps identifies as a defender of the Second Amendment and opposes federal measures for stricter gun control.

Personal life Van Epps lives in Nashville, Tennessee. He and his wife, Meg, have one daughter. Van Epps is a Christian.

Electoral history