Trump-Backed Veteran Matt Van Epps Stuns Rivals With Landslide Win in Tennessee’s GOP Primary — A Fresh Signal of MAGA Momentum
In another defining moment for Donald Trump’s influence over the Republican Party, Trump-endorsed candidate Matt Van Epps has emerged victorious in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District primary, securing the GOP nomination in a race that tested loyalty, strategy, and the enduring power of Trump’s backing. Van Epps, a former lieutenant colonel in the Tennessee Army National Guard and state commissioner, defeated ten other contenders in a crowded field that reflected the fierce competition among conservatives seeking to fill the seat vacated by Representative Mark Green. His win wasn’t just another political headline—it was a clear demonstration of how one endorsement from Trump can still transform an election overnight.
Van Epps’ late endorsement from the former president came just as early voting had begun, yet the timing proved decisive. Within days, another leading candidate suspended their campaign, consolidating conservative support behind the Trump-backed veteran. That shift sent shockwaves through Tennessee’s Republican base, as voters rallied behind Van Epps as both a trusted public servant and a symbolic continuation of the MAGA vision. His background as a U.S. Army officer, combined with his emphasis on faith, discipline, and public duty, resonated with Republican voters across the district’s fourteen counties and suburban Nashville regions, where patriotism and loyalty to Trump remain deeply rooted.
The 7th District is one of Tennessee’s most reliably Republican territories, long seen as a stronghold for conservative values. For Van Epps, this victory effectively positions him as the frontrunner for the December 2 general election, where he’s expected to carry that same wave of momentum into an easy win. But beyond the electoral math, this race underscores a broader message for 2025: Trump’s endorsement continues to be one of the most powerful assets in American politics. Despite shifting narratives and national controversies, the former president’s ability to rally grassroots conservatives remains unmatched.
Observers note that Van Epps’ campaign followed a familiar Trump-era playbook—direct communication with voters, minimal reliance on establishment politics, and a strong focus on national pride and local integrity. His campaign speeches leaned heavily on defending American values, supporting veterans, securing the border, and protecting the economy from “Washington’s waste.” In interviews, he credited Trump’s leadership for inspiring his run and shaping the modern conservative movement into one that rewards authenticity over rhetoric.
As election night results rolled in, Van Epps’ team celebrated a commanding lead, calling the victory “a message from the people of Tennessee that they’re ready for leaders who serve, not talk.” Supporters waved flags and chanted familiar rally cries of “America First,” signaling that the spirit of the Trump movement remains alive and deeply embedded in the region’s political identity. Even among long-time state Republicans, there’s growing recognition that Trump’s endorsements no longer merely support candidates—they define them.
With Van Epps now set to carry the Republican banner into December, Tennessee’s 7th District has become another battleground in the story of Trump’s enduring grip over the GOP. If he wins the general election as expected, his arrival in Congress will likely strengthen the populist, veteran-driven, and America-first wing of the party. In many ways, his primary victory feels less like a political upset and more like the continuation of a movement that refuses to fade. As one supporter put it outside the Nashville watch party, “When Trump speaks, people still listen—and they vote.”
