Trump Endorses Van Epps in 7th Congressional District Race

President Donald Trump and Gov. Bill Lee have endorsed Republican Matt Van Epps ahead of Tuesday’s 7th Congressional District primary election.

“Matt Van Epps has my complete and total endorsement to be the next Congressman from Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District — He will never let you down!” Trump wrote in part in an Oct. 3 Truth Social post.

Trump’s endorsement comes one day after Lee endorsed Van Epps, saying in an Oct. 2 X post that “Matt will stand with President Trump 100% to push back against the extreme agendas that threaten this country.”

After the Trump endorsement, state Rep. Lee Reeves (R-Franklin) suspended his campaign, saying in an announcement, "The words I said on the campaign trail were not hollow. I meant them. I support our President, and if this is the call he has made, I will back him up. Therefore, I am suspending my campaign and will stand shoulder to shoulder with President Trump. I also endorse Matt Van Epps for Congress."

Van Epps is the former commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services who currently serves as a lieutenant colonel in the Tennessee National Guard.

He is also a U.S. Army Ranger and West Point graduate who served in the same special operations regiment as former U.S. Rep. Mark Green, who endorsed Van Epps early in the race after he resigned from Congress.

Van Epps has also been backed by former Gov. Bill Haslam and Nashville auto magnate Lee Beaman, and has relied heavily on support from active duty military and veterans, with his first proposed bill aimed at helping reduce the cost of living for veterans.

Republican and Democratic candidates in the crowded field will be decided during Tuesday’s primary election. The general election will be held on Dec. 2.