Republican candidate for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District Matt Van Epps talks with attendees before a debate with other candidates at CabaRay Showroom in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Sept. 5, 2025.

WASHINGTON - Donald Trump's endorsement paid off in Tennessee.

Matt Van Epps, the president's favored candidate, won the Oct. 7 Republican primary in a special election to fill a U.S. House seat left vacant by Mark Green, who stepped down this summer from representing the Nashville-area district that historically leans toward the GOP.

Van Epps beat eight other Republicans for the nomination and now is set to run against Democratic primary winner and Tennessee state Rep. Aftyn Behn in the Dec. 2 general election.

Van Epps is favored to win that race for the 7th Congressional District seat representing parts of Davidson, Williamson, Montgomery and eleven other counties.

Last November, Green cruised to re-election to a fourth term with nearly 60% of the vote. Green, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, resigned from Congress in July to pursue a private sector opportunity.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee late last year appointed Van Epps to serve as commissioner of the state's General Services Department. He previously served as a top coordinator for Tennessee's COVID-19 response.

Trump's endorsement proved pivotal in the Tennessee election. Both state Rep. Lee Reeves and businessman Stuart Cooper suspended their campaigns last week after the president weighed in.

Van Epps had framed his campaign around his service as a U.S. Army helicopter combat pilot, and his support for Trump. A local military veteran filed a complaint with the Tennessee National Guard against Van Epps alleging inappropriate use of his military uniform in a campaign ad in violation of Pentagon rules.

Tennessee's election winner will be crucial for Republicans and Speaker Mike Johnson's ability to lead the chamber. Republicans currently hold a thin 219-214 majority in the House.

Contributing: Vivian Jones, The Tennessean

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump-backed GOP candidate Matt Van Epps wins primary for Tennessee special election

Reporting by Sudiksha Kochi, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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