Ballot Project

← Back to Stewart County, Tennessee: Election on 2026-08-06

Contest for US House District 7

primary - Partisan - U.S. Representative

About this office

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.

Term length: 2 years.

This role calls for

  • Legislative craft at the federal level: reading, drafting, and amending federal statute, and knowing the law being changed.
  • Understanding of the district's economic and everyday concerns, and constituent-service capacity for casework with federal agencies.
  • Persuasion and coalition-building across party and factional lines to form working majorities.
  • Integrity: acting for constituents and the public good rather than personal gain, independent of undue influence.
  • Oversight judgment: the House funds and oversees the executive branch and the military.

Derived from the office's statutory duties and operational reality. Candidate summaries below map each candidate's documented experience to these requirements.

Campaigns

Democratic Primary 4 candidates
Joshua Warren Sales

Joshua Warren Sales

Democrat
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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.
Vincent Dixie

Vincent Dixie

Democrat
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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.
Saletta Holloway

Saletta Holloway

Democrat
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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.
Darden Copeland

Darden Copeland

Democrat
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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.
Republican Primary 1 candidate
Matt Van Epps

Matt Van Epps

Republican
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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.
Independent 2 candidates
Andrew J. Koontz

Andrew J. Koontz

Independent
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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.
Lowell Reynolds

Lowell Reynolds

Independent
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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.
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