{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nMatt Van Epps is a Republican member of the U.S. House representing Tennessee's 7th Congressional District, having assumed office on December 4, 2025 [1][2]. He won the seat in a special election held on December 2, 2025, defeating Democratic state Representative Aftyn Behn by a margin of approximately nine percentage points [3][4][6][7][8][10][11]. The race was widely viewed as a referendum on President Donald Trump, who endorsed Van Epps during the primary and campaigned for him in the general election [4][10]. While the victory maintained Republican control of the deep-red district, the relatively close result fueled Democratic optimism heading into the 2026 midterm elections [4][9].\n\nVan Epps is currently seeking re-election to a full term in the same district [1]. He declared his candidacy for the Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1]. His current term is set to end on January 3, 2027 [1].\n\n## Background and education\n\nMatthew Robert Van Epps was born on March 29, 1983, in Ohio [2]. He served in the U.S. Army National Guard as a helicopter pilot and is a combat veteran [1][6]. Van Epps earned a bachelor's degree in political science and mechanical engineering from the United States Military Academy [1][2].\n\n## Career\n\nMatthew Robert Van Epps was born on March 29, 1983, in Ohio [2]. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science and mechanical engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 2005 [1][2]. Following his graduation, he served as a Fellow for the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress [13].\n\nVan Epps served as an Aviation Officer and helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army, flying AH-64D Apache and MH-47G Chinook helicopters with combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan [12][13]. He attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Tennessee Army National Guard, where he served for a decade on active duty, including combat deployments as an Air Mission Commander in Army Special Operations [12][14]. He continues to serve as a reservist in the National Guard [14].\n\nPrior to his election to Congress, Van Epps worked in Tennessee state government as the Commissioner of the Department of General Services and Deputy Chief Operating Officer [14]. He held the position of Commissioner from September 17, 2024, until June 10, 2025, serving under Governor Bill Lee [2].\n\n## Office history\n\nMatt Van Epps served as the Commissioner of General Services for Tennessee from September 17, 2024, to June 10, 2025, appointed by Governor Bill Lee [2]. In this role, he succeeded Christi Branscom and was later succeeded by Jeff Holmes [2].\n\nVan Epps won a special election for the U.S. House of Representatives in Tennessee's 7th Congressional District on December 2, 2025 [3][4][6][7][8][10][11]. He defeated Democratic state representative Aftyn Behn with approximately 54 percent of the vote [6][8]. This victory allowed him to assume office on December 4, 2025, succeeding Mark Green, who resigned in June 2025 to take a private sector position [2][5][11]. His current term is scheduled to end on January 3, 2027 [1].\n\nVan Epps has declared his candidacy for re-election to the U.S. House in Tennessee's 7th Congressional District in the Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nMatt Van Epps assumed office in the U.S. House representing Tennessee's 7th Congressional District on December 4, 2025, following his victory in a special election that retained the seat for the Republican Party [1][2][3][4]. His legislative tenure is brief, with his current term scheduled to end on January 3, 2027 [1]. Prior to his federal service, Van Epps served as Tennessee\u2019s Commissioner of General Services from September 17, 2024, to June 10, 2025 [2].\n\nSpecific legislative records, including notable bills sponsored, specific votes cast, or committee assignments during his current term in Congress, are not detailed in the available sources. The provided materials focus primarily on his electoral history and professional background rather than a catalog of statutory accomplishments or policy positions enacted since taking office [1][2].\n\n## Family\n\nMatt Van Epps is married to Meg Wrather [2]. The couple has one child [2].\n\n## Sources\n\n[1] [Matt Van Epps - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Matt_Van_Epps)\n[2] [Matt Van Epps - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Van_Epps)\n[3] [Republican Matt Van Epps holds deep-red House district in Tennessee special election](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/republican-matt-van-epps-house-district-tennessee-special-election-rcna246846)\n[4] [Trump-backed Republican Matt Van Epps wins US House special election in Tennessee](https://apnews.com/article/tennessee-special-election-congress-van-epps-behn-246e101692e3dd002d43a4cdb467164b)\n[5] [Republican Matt Van Epps wins Tennessee special election for House seat | Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/republicans-keep-crucial-congressional-seat-gop-hands-special-election-victory)\n[6] [Republican Matt Van Epps wins Tennessee special election](https://rollcall.com/2025/12/02/tennessee-special-election-van-epps/)\n[7] [Matt Van Epps holds off Democratic upset in Tennessee special election](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/12/02/tennessee-special-election-live-updates/87479909007/)\n[8] [Matt Van Epps defeats Aftyn Behn in Tennessee's 7th District - Nashville Banner](https://nashvillebanner.com/2025/12/02/republican-matt-van-epps-wins-special-election/)\n[9] [Democrats see Tennessee special election as sign of expanding 2026 map \u2013 Roll Call](https://rollcall.com/2025/12/03/tennessee-special-election-midterm-battleground/)\n[10] [Republican Matt Van Epps wins closely watched Tennessee House race, AP projects - CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/republican-matt-van-epps-wins-closely-watched-tennessee-house-race-ap-projects/)\n[11] [Republican Matt Van Epps wins Tennessee special election, averting Democratic upset | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/02/politics/republican-matt-van-epps-will-win-tennessee-special-election-averting-democratic-upset-cnn-projects)\n[12] [Matt Van Epps for Congress - West Point Graduate & Combat Veteran](https://www.mattfortn.com/meet-matt)\n[13] [Matthew Van Epps \u2014 Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress](https://www.thepresidency.org/presidential-fellows-alumni-spotlight/matthew-van-epps)\n[14] [Matt Van Epps \u00bb Club for Growth](https://www.clubforgrowth.org/candidates/matt-van-epps/)","campaigns":[],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Matt","fullname":"Matt Van Epps","lastname":"Epps","middlename":"Van","office_history":[],"summary":"Matt Van Epps is a Republican U.S. Representative for Tennessee's 7th District, elected in a December 2025 special election.","terms":[],"token":"KPTXxMJGmf"}