From NBC: Matt Van Epps, a former state official who earned an endorsement from President Donald Trump last week, won the Republican nomination Tuesday in the special election for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District House seat, NBC News projects.
Van Epps bested 10 other Republican candidates after a primary in which all of them campaigned on their support for Trump. But Van Epps was the only one to get Trump’s backing, adding it to early endorsements from former Rep. Mark Green — the Republican who resigned from the 7th District this year — as well as Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.
Van Epps now advances to the special general election for the district, which Trump carried with more than 60% of the vote last year. The 7th District ranges from the two of the richest counties in Tennessee to some of its poorest, including an Army base and part of Nashville. It has been solidly Republican for decades.
Van Epps, a lieutenant colonel in the Tennessee Army National Guard and a former active-duty combat pilot in the Army, hoped to appeal to voters with his platform of “security, opportunity and prosperity.” His goals include investing in infrastructure like small nuclear reactors, broadband and cellphone coverage.
In an interview before Trump’s endorsement, Van Epps said he wanted to continue Green’s work in Congress, noting his work with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Van Epps bested 10 other Republican candidates after a primary in which all of them campaigned on their support for Trump. But Van Epps was the only one to get Trump’s backing, adding it to early endorsements from former Rep. Mark Green — the Republican who resigned from the 7th District this year — as well as Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.
Van Epps now advances to the special general election for the district, which Trump carried with more than 60% of the vote last year. The 7th District ranges from the two of the richest counties in Tennessee to some of its poorest, including an Army base and part of Nashville. It has been solidly Republican for decades.
Van Epps, a lieutenant colonel in the Tennessee Army National Guard and a former active-duty combat pilot in the Army, hoped to appeal to voters with his platform of “security, opportunity and prosperity.” His goals include investing in infrastructure like small nuclear reactors, broadband and cellphone coverage.
In an interview before Trump’s endorsement, Van Epps said he wanted to continue Green’s work in Congress, noting his work with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
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