{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Joshua Warren Sales","chatgptsummary":"Joshua Warren Sales is a Democratic candidate for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District in the 2026 primary. His biography identifies him as a resident of Pegram but provides no details regarding prior legislative experience, federal lawmaking skills, or specific constituent service history. Bio does not indicate relevant legislative craft experience or oversight judgment experience.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nJoshua Warren Sales, of Pegram, Tennessee, is a Democratic candidate for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District in the August 6, 2026 primary [1]. The Republican incumbent is Matt Van Epps of Nashville [1][2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Candidates for United States House of Representatives - Tennessee Secretary of State](https://sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com/s3fs-public/document/USHouseCandidates_2026.pdf) - accessed 2026-07-20\n[2] [Tennessee's redrawn congressional districts: A full guide to every candidate running in 2026 - NewsChannel 5](https://www.newschannel5.com/news/tennessees-redrawn-congressional-districts-a-full-guide-to-every-candidate-running-in-2026) - accessed 2026-07-20","firstname":"Joshua Warren","lastname":"Sales","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"UA3aBTFzed"},"token":null},{"candidatename":"Matt Van Epps","chatgptsummary":"Van Epps's biography shows federal legislative experience on Homeland Security and Science committees, alongside military command and state executive service that suggests oversight judgment and constituent-service capacity. He holds a Master of Public Administration and has served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the National Guard. Bio does not indicate prior experience drafting federal statute or building cross-party coalitions at the national level.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nMatthew Robert Van Epps is the Republican U.S. Representative for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District, having won a December 2, 2025, special election with 53.9% of the vote. The seat had been vacated when former Rep. Mark Green resigned in July 2025. Van Epps was sworn in on December 4, 2025.\n\nVan Epps is a fiscal conservative supporting extending tax cuts, completing the border wall, deregulation, school choice, and Second Amendment protections.\n\n## Background and education\nVan Epps was born March 29, 1983, in Ohio, and graduated from Mentor High School. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2005 and later earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.\n\n## Career\nVan Epps served ten years on active duty as an Army aviation officer in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan. He received the Air Medal with \"V\" device, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal. He holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Tennessee Army National Guard. After leaving active duty, he served as Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services under Governor Bill Lee and as deputy chief operating officer in the governor's office. In the 119th Congress, he serves on the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.\n\n## Family\nVan Epps is married to Meg Wrather. They have one daughter and reside in Nashville, Tennessee.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Matt Van Epps \u2013 Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Van_Epps)\n- [2] [About \u2013 Congressman Matt Van Epps](https://vanepps.house.gov/about)\n- [3] [Republican Matt Van Epps wins special House election in Tennessee \u2013 NPR](https://www.npr.org)\n","firstname":"Matt","lastname":"Van Epps","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"GYsdU97GNx"},"token":null},{"candidatename":"Vincent Dixie","chatgptsummary":"Vincent Dixie's biography shows state legislative experience involving voting on bills related to health, education, and justice reform, alongside a background as an accountant and bail bondsman owner. The record documents no controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate federal legislative craft or oversight judgment of the executive branch experience.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nVincent Dixie is a Democratic member of the Tennessee House of Representatives representing District 54, having assumed office in January 2019 [3][12]. His current term concludes on November 3, 2026 [1]. In the upcoming 2026 election cycle, Dixie is seeking re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 54 and appears on the ballot for the Democratic primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1][9].\n\nPrior to this state legislative bid, Dixie announced in July 2025 that he would run for Congress in a special election for Tennessee\u2019s 7th Congressional District following the resignation of U.S. Representative Mark Green [10][13]. However, he is now focused on his current seat, having been unopposed in the 2024 Democratic primary for District 54 [8].\n\n## Background and education\n\nVincent Bernard Dixie was born on August 20, 1973, in Chattanooga, Tennessee [3][4]. He was raised by a single mother who worked for South Central Bell and was a member of the Communications Workers of America [6]. The family moved to Nashville when he was nine years old due to his mother's job transfer [7]. Dixie attended Jere Baxter Elementary School in Metro Nashville Public Schools before attending Tennessee State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting and a Master of Business Administration [1][8].\n\n## Career\n\nVincent Dixie was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and moved to Nashville at age 9 after his mother, a single parent, transferred jobs from South Central Bell [7]. He attended Metro Nashville Public Schools before earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting and an MBA from Tennessee State University, graduating in 1997 and 2004 respectively [1][8]. Dixie states that he had his first job at age 14 and began driving his mother to work by age 15 [6].\n\nProfessionally, Dixie is a businessman who has owned Bail U Out Bonding and A Way Out Bonding, operating offices across six Middle Tennessee counties [8]. He also worked as an accountant prior to his election to the state legislature [7][12]. In 2025, he announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in a special election for Tennessee\u2019s 7th Congressional District [10].\n\n## Office history\n\nVincent Dixie was first elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2018, representing District 54 [1]. He assumed office on November 6, 2018, succeeding Brenda Gilmore [3]. As a member of the Democratic Party, he serves two-year terms with no term limits [2]. His responsibilities include legislative duties within the Tennessee General Assembly, where he has focused on issues such as health, education, and justice reform [8].\n\nDixie was re-elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2020 [8]. He won re-election again in 2022, running unopposed in the Democratic primary for District 54 [8]. His current term is scheduled to end on November 3, 2026 [1].\n\nIn addition to his state legislative service, Dixie ran for Congress in Tennessee\u2019s 7th Congressional District. He announced his candidacy for a special election in the Democratic primary in July 2025 [10]. As of May 2026, he is on the ballot for the Democratic primary on August 6, 2026, to seek re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives [1]. The outcome of this upcoming election has not yet occurred.\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nVincent Dixie has served in the Tennessee House of Representatives since assuming office on November 6, 2018 [1]. He represents District 54, a seat he previously held starting January 8, 2019, succeeding Brenda Gilmore [3]. As of the 2020 Census, his district represented an average of 69,868 residents per state representative [2].\n\nDixie\u2019s legislative record includes voting against several measures promoted by the Family Action Council of Tennessee. These votes were cast on bills including SB 16/HB 1 (Tennessee Sports Gaming Act), SB 364/HB 563 (Business Protection Act), and SB 1257/HB 1029 (Human Life Protection Act) [5]. He also voted against SB 1297/HB 1151, SB 1304/HB 836, SB 1373/HB 307, SB 1499/HB 1274, SB 1736/HB 1689, SB 2196/HB 2263, and SB 2465/HB 2568 [5]. Additionally, he voted against HJR 17, which acknowledged God as the source of liberties [5].\n\nRegarding economic policy, Dixie stated that he would not have supported the \"One Big Beautiful Bill\" passed by Congress in the summer of 2025. He characterized the legislation as being written to serve corporations and billionaires at the expense of local hospitals and children [11].\n\nDixie\u2019s professional background includes work as a bail bondsman and accountant, which he cites as informing his focus on justice reform [7]. He has described his legislative priorities as focusing on health, education, and justice reform [8].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nVincent Dixie is a small business owner who has operated in the bail bonding industry [8]. He owned Bail U Out Bonding and A Way Out Bonding, which maintained offices across six Middle Tennessee counties [8]. Prior to his political career, Dixie worked as an accountant [7][8].\n\nDixie was raised in Nashville by a single mother who worked for South Central Bell (now AT&T) [6][7]. He states that he had his first job at age 14 and began driving his mother to work by age 15 [6]. His family background is described as working-class, with his mother being a member of the Communications Workers of America [6].\n\nIn addition to his bail bonding ventures, Dixie has been identified as an owner of A Way Out Bonding Campaign [8]. Specific details regarding the sale of these businesses or precise financial disclosure figures are not provided in the available sources.\n\n## Family\n\nVincent Dixie is married to Ericka Dixie and they have two children [3][4]. He self-describes as a husband and father who was raised in Nashville by a single mother who worked for South Central Bell [6][7]. His family background includes early exposure to labor advocacy, as his mother was a member of the Communications Workers of America [6].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Vincent Dixie - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Vincent_Dixie)\n[2] [Tennessee House of Representatives District 54 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Tennessee_House_of_Representatives_District_54)\n[3] [Vincent B. Dixie - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_Dixie)\n[4] [Vincent B. Dixie - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_B._Dixie)\n[5] [Rep. Vincent Dixie - Family Action Council of Tennessee](https://scorecard.factennessee.org/representatives/vincent-dixie)\n[6] [Vincent Dixie for Congress](https://www.dixie4tn.com/)\n[7] [Bail bondsman, accountant, Nashville representative: Who is Vincent Dixie? | WPLN News](https://wpln.org/post/bail-bondsman-accountant-nashville-representative-who-is-vincent-dixie/)\n[8] [Vincent Dixie unopposed for Tennessee House, District 54 - Nashville Banner](https://nashvillebanner.com/2024/07/20/vincent-dixie-tennessee-house-district-54/)\n[9] [Vincent B. Dixie | BallotReady](https://www.ballotready.org/people/vincent-dixie)\n[10] [Congressional candidates dropping, adding in Tennessee District 7 race \u2022 Tennessee Lookout](https://tennesseelookout.com/2025/07/15/congressional-candidates-dropping-adding-in-district-7-race/)\n[11] [Vincent Dixie's Stance on Economy, Taxes and Inflation - Nashville Banner](https://nashvillebanner.com/2025/09/10/vincent-dixie-candidate-us-house/)\n[12] [Vincent Dixie](https://a.osmarks.net/content/wikipedia_en_all_maxi_2020-08/A/Vincent_Dixie)\n[13] [A special election, indeed: Can a Black Catholic from Tennessee make history in Congress?](https://www.blackcatholicmessenger.org/vincent-dixie-special-election/)","firstname":"Vincent","lastname":"Dixie","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"oAnqkvra3M"},"token":null},{"candidatename":"Saletta Holloway","chatgptsummary":"Saletta Holloway's biography shows experience as a healthcare executive and former Metro Council member, suggesting familiarity with local economic concerns and constituent service. The record does not indicate federal legislative drafting experience or oversight judgment of the executive branch. Bio does not indicate federal lawmaking experience or military oversight experience.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nSaletta Holloway is a Democratic candidate for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District in the August 6, 2026 primary [1]. Her campaign has centered on expanding affordable healthcare access, strengthening economic opportunities for working families and small businesses, supporting veterans and military families, and investing in rural Tennessee communities [2].\n\n## Background and education\nHolloway was born in Benton County, Tennessee [2].\n\n## Career\nA campaign press release describes Holloway as \"a longtime educator, healthcare executive, and former Metro Council member\" [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Candidates for United States House of Representatives - Tennessee Secretary of State](https://sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com/s3fs-public/document/USHouseCandidates_2026.pdf) - accessed 2026-07-20\n[2] [Holloway for Congress Announces 21 Community Leaders Endorse Campaign for Tennessee's 7th District - Tennessee Tribune](https://tntribune.com/holloway-for-congress-announces-21-community-leaders-endorse-campaign-for-tennessees-7th-district/) - accessed 2026-07-20","firstname":"Saletta","lastname":"Holloway","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"G8RghR0CMp"},"token":null},{"candidatename":"Andrew J. Koontz","chatgptsummary":"Andrew J. Koontz is an independent candidate for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District in 2026. The biography confirms his current campaign status but does not indicate legislative craft experience at the federal level or prior oversight judgment experience. No controversy or disciplinary record appears in the provided text. Bio does not indicate experience drafting federal statute or managing constituent casework with federal agencies.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nAndrew J. Koontz, of Portland, is running as an independent candidate for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District in the 2026 election.[1]\n\n## Sources\n\n[1] [Tennessee's redrawn congressional districts: A full guide to every candidate running in 2026 \u2013 NewsChannel5](https://www.newschannel5.com/news/tennessees-redrawn-congressional-districts-a-full-guide-to-every-candidate-running-in-2026)","firstname":"Andrew J.","lastname":"Koontz","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"Kw1Vcc85fT"},"token":null},{"candidatename":"Lowell Reynolds","chatgptsummary":"Lowell Reynolds's biography shows a Grammy-winning music industry career and current law studies, suggesting familiarity with professional standards and legal concepts relevant to federal statute review. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate prior legislative experience or direct constituent-service capacity with federal agencies.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nLowell Reynolds is an independent candidate running for election to the U.S. House of Representatives to represent Tennessee's 7th Congressional District [1]. He officially declared his candidacy for the general election scheduled for November 3, 2026 [1]. The primary elections for this race are set to take place on August 6, 2026 [1].\n\nReynolds describes himself as a former music industry professional who earned a Grammy Statuette for engineering work before pursuing legal studies [2]. He states that he is currently a third-year law student at Syracuse University College of Law and resides in Nashville, Tennessee [2]. Campaign finance data from OpenCampaign indicates that no contribution data is available for his campaign [3].\n\n## Background and education\n\nLowell Reynolds was born in Florida and raised in Indiana before building his life in Nashville, Tennessee [2]. He is the son of a small business owner [2].\n\nReynolds earned a business degree and is a third-year law student (3L) at Syracuse University College of Law [2].\n\n## Career\n\nLowell Reynolds was born in Florida and raised in Indiana before establishing his life in Nashville, Tennessee [2]. He earned a business degree and is currently a third-year law student at Syracuse University College of Law [2].\n\nReynolds built a successful career in the music industry, during which he received a Grammy statuette for his engineering work along with several other professional honors [2]. The son of a small business owner, he states that he learned the value of hard work, personal responsibility, and perseverance early in life [2].\n\n## Office history\n\nLowell Reynolds has not held any elected or appointed public office prior to his current candidacy [1]. He is running as an independent candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Tennessee's 7th Congressional District, with a general election scheduled for November 3, 2026 [1].\n\nReynolds self-describes as having built his life in Nashville, Tennessee, after being born in Florida and raised in Indiana [2]. He earned a business degree and is a third-year law student at Syracuse University College of Law [2]. His professional background includes a career in the music industry, where he won a Grammy Award for engineering [2].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nLowell Reynolds describes himself as the son of a small business owner and states that he learned the value of hard work, personal responsibility, and perseverance early in life [2]. He earned a business degree prior to pursuing his legal studies [2]. Reynolds is currently a third-year law student (3L) at Syracuse University College of Law [2].\n\nReynolds reports having had a successful career in the music industry, during which he earned a Grammy statuette for engineering along with several other professional honors [2]. He self-describes as having built his life in Nashville, Tennessee, after being born in Florida and raised in Indiana [2].\n\nRegarding campaign financing, data from Open Campaign indicates that no contribution data is available for Reynolds' committee [3].\n\n## Family\n\nLowell Reynolds is married to his high school sweetheart [2]. He is the father of two children [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Lowell Reynolds - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Lowell_Reynolds)\n[2] [Lowell Reynolds For Congress \u2013 United States House of Representatives. Tennessee's Fifth District.](https://loareyno.wordpress.com)\n[3] [Issue positions of Lowell Reynolds - All politics is local!](https://www.opencampaign.com/politicians-in-united-states/196490/lowell-reynolds/issue-positions)","firstname":"Lowell","lastname":"Reynolds","middlename":"Andre","suffix":null,"token":"fjrRQ9OoQr"},"token":null},{"candidatename":"Darden Copeland","chatgptsummary":"Copeland's background in public affairs and entrepreneurship demonstrates experience with constituent concerns and coalition-building through his firm's work across 46 states. His service on local boards indicates community engagement relevant to oversight duties. The biography contains no record of controversy or disciplinary action. Bio does not indicate federal legislative drafting experience or prior congressional service.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nDarden Copeland ran in the Democratic primary for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District special election held on October 7, 2025, to replace retiring Congressman Mark Green. He lost to state Representative Aftyn Behn by approximately 933 votes. He has since filed to run again for the same seat in the 2026 election cycle.\n\nCopeland has emphasized banning stock trading by members of Congress, refusing corporate PAC money, and focusing on accountability over partisanship. He ran as a business-minded outsider distinct from the state legislators in the field.\n\n## Background and education\nCopeland was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and grew up in Culpeper, Virginia, in a working-class household where his father owned an industrial uniform company. He attended the University of Richmond on student loans and multiple jobs, earning degrees in Political Science and Leadership Studies with a minor in Communications.\n\n## Career\nAfter college, Copeland spent his early career working to elect Democrats nationally on congressional and presidential campaigns. In 2005 he moved into public affairs and entrepreneurship, founding Calvert Street Group, a national public affairs firm headquartered in Nashville. The firm has operated campaigns across 46 U.S. states and Canadian provinces, specializing in land use, energy infrastructure, and issue advocacy. He moved to Nashville in 2008. He has also purchased and renovated several historic properties in downtown Nashville.\n\nHe serves on the boards of Historic Nashville, Inc. and the Nashville Wine Auction, which supports local cancer charities. He is an Elder at Woodmont Christian Church.\n\n## Family\nHe is married to Natalie Copeland. They have two children and a rescue dog named Kathy. He enjoys live music, stand-up comedy, and coaching youth sports.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Meet Darden \u2013 Darden Copeland For Congress](https://www.dardenforcongress.com/meetdarden)\n- [2] [Nashville businessman Darden Copeland enters Democratic primary in Congressional District 7 \u2013 Tennessee Lookout](https://tennesseelookout.com/briefs/nashville-businessman-darden-copeland-enters-democratic-primary-in-congressional-district-7/)\n- [3] [Copeland's Stance on Economy, Immigration, and Education \u2013 Nashville Banner](https://nashvillebanner.com/2025/09/10/darden-copeland-democrat-district7/)\n- [4] [Darden Copeland \u2013 Historic Nashville, Inc.](https://www.historicnashvilleinc.org/board-members/darden-copeland/)\n","firstname":"Darden","lastname":"Copeland","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"3QcGD293l1"},"token":null}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"us_representative","o.office":null,"office":"us_house_7","officedescription":"A United States Representative represents a single congressional district in the lower chamber of Congress, serving a two-year term. Representatives write and pass federal law, originate revenue bills, fund and oversee the executive branch, and serve constituents in dealings with federal agencies.","officequalities":"- Legislative craft at the federal level: reading, drafting, and amending federal statute, and knowing the law being changed.\n- Understanding of the district's economic and everyday concerns, and constituent-service capacity for casework with federal agencies.\n- Persuasion and coalition-building across party and factional lines to form working majorities.\n- Integrity: acting for constituents and the public good rather than personal gain, independent of undue influence.\n- Oversight judgment: the House funds and oversees the executive branch and the military.","officeterm":2,"officetitle":"U.S. Representative","partisan":1,"pgr":"primary","quantity":null,"referendum":null,"source":{"retrieved_at":"2026-06-01","title":"TN SoS \u2014 Candidates for United States House of Representatives (2026)","url":"https://sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com/s3fs-public/document/USHouseCandidates_2026.pdf"},"title":"US House District 7"}