Van Epps Wins Reelection in Tennessee’s 7th District

Congressman Matt Van Epps will retain his seat in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District after winning reelection Tuesday. 

Van Epps, who has been in office for less than a year after winning a special election to replace former Congressman Mark Green, will now serve his first full term after winning 50 percent of the vote counted so far. 

Nashville businessman Darden Copeland, a Democrat who ran against Van Epps, came close with 48 percent. 

Van Epps was at an election night watch party for Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn, who was running for governor, but did not speak to the crowd when Blackburn called her own race around 10 p.m., though it is still statistically too close to call at the time of this publication. 

Thank you, Tennessee, for once again placing your trust in me,” Van Epps said in a statement. “Serving this great state is the honor of a lifetime, and it’s one that I will never take lightly. We’ve accomplished a lot, but there’s much more work ahead in the 120th Congress. I’m honored to stay in the fight for the people of Tennessee.”

The district, which spans seven counties in northern Middle Tennessee from Montgomery County to Macon County, including parts of Nashville, was redrawn during a special legislative session this summer, making it slightly less red than it was after last year’s special election. 

Though Copeland ran in the Democratic primary last year and Van Epps won by about 8 percent in 2025, it was unclear whether the MAGA-aligned Republican would fare as well in the new map, or if Copeland’s centrist approach would win over midterm voters wanting to distance themselves from Trump.

Ultimately, Copeland moved the district several points to the left, following a nationwide trend which made several perceived safe Republican seats in Tennessee too close to call after 10:30 p.m.

The energy was high at the Davidson County Democratic Party election watch party at Harken Hall in Madison on Tuesday evening. MS NOW played all night, and the crowd stood to cheer and embrace each time another Democratic victory was announced in races nationwide. 

Still, at 10 p.m., Copeland took to the stage to concede. He was introduced by Mayor Freddie O’Connell.

“There’s somebody who ran in a special election, ran again this year knowing he was facing an incumbent Republican, and ran one of the smartest, most important campaigns to get values that matter in Davidson County, but also mattered to all Tennesseans, as he sought a pathway to Congress,” Mayor O’Connell said.

“I’m not going to shed a tear on this loss tonight, but it does sting,” Copeland said. “And it stings because I do realize this was one of the most significant moments of my life, and I’m not going to get to go to bat for all of you in Washington.”

The post Van Epps Wins Reelection in Tennessee’s 7th District appeared first on Nashville Banner.