Matt Van Epps

Matthew Robert Van Epps is the U.S. Representative for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District and a member of the Republican Party. He was first elected to Congress in a special election on December 2, 2025, to succeed Mark Green, and was sworn into office on December 4, 2025. Van Epps graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2005 with a degree in political science and mechanical engineering, later earning a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2019. He served ten years on active duty in the U.S. Army as an aviator with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), completing multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He continues to serve as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Tennessee Army National Guard. Prior to his congressional tenure, Van Epps held senior executive roles in Tennessee state government. From 2020 to 2023, he served as Deputy Chief Operating Officer in the office of Governor Bill Lee, focusing on statewide procurement and operational efficiency. In 2024, he was appointed Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services, where he managed state real estate, facilities, and procurement strategy. His career also includes private sector experience in healthcare operations and leadership roles at the Tennessee Department of Veterans Services and the Department of Transportation.

Van Epps aligns with the "America First" agenda and describes himself as a "fiscal hawk." His economic priorities include passing a Balanced Budget Amendment, ending the use of omnibus spending bills, and abolishing the estate tax. On immigration, he supports increased border security measures and enhanced law enforcement to address "migrant crime." Regarding social issues, Van Epps identifies as pro-life with exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother, though he asserts that abortion regulation is a states' rights issue. His foreign policy platform centers on a strong U.S.-Israel alliance and support for the Abraham Accords. Additionally, he advocates for school choice, Second Amendment protections, and policies aimed at achieving American energy dominance.