U.S. House · Tennessee's 7th District
Middle Tennessee, including parts of Nashville's suburbs and Clarksville, under the congressional map Tennessee redrew in May 2026.
General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
RESULT · UNOFFICIAL UNTIL CERTIFIED
Matt Van Epps, projected winner
| Candidate | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Matt Van Epps | 121,100 | 50.3% |
| Darden Copeland | 115,867 | 48.1% |
| Andrew Koontz | 2,603 | 1.1% |
| Lowell Reynolds | 1,316 | 0.5% |
About 99% of the expected vote counted. As of November 9. Winners take office next year. Counts can change until states certify. NBC News ↗
Sources re-checked September 25, 2026 · How we research
- Rep. Matt Van Epps (R) won a special election on December 2, 2025 to fill the seat vacated by Mark Green's resignation, and was sworn in December 4, 2025. Tennessee then redrew congressional district boundaries in May 2026, and Van Epps is running for a full term in the redrawn 7th District.[1][3]
- Van Epps was unopposed in the August 6, 2026 Republican primary. Darden Copeland won the Democratic primary with 32.7% of the vote in a five-candidate field.[1]
On the November 3 ballot · 4 candidates
Issue evidence — side by side
Recorded votes, documented positions and candidates’ own words are shown with sources. “In their own words” quotes a candidate on the topic without inferring a stance. Votes describe specific bills or motions; they do not establish overall support or opposition to a broad issue. A dash means our research has no evidence on that topic, not that the candidate has no position.
Protect legal access to abortion
- Matt Van Epps—
- Darden CopelandSupports[6]
In a Nashville Banner questionnaire he said he does not support a federal abortion ban and that a woman's healthcare decisions should be left up to her.
- Andrew Koontz—
- Lowell ReynoldsIn their own words[7]
“No”
In the Nashville Banner candidate questionnaire (July 2026), answering whether he supports a federal ban on abortion
Expand immigration enforcement and deportations
- Matt Van Epps—
- Darden Copeland—
- Andrew Koontz—
- Lowell ReynoldsOpposes[7]
Asked in the Nashville Banner questionnaire whether immigration enforcement in the second Trump term has been too strict, not strict enough or appropriately strict, he answered too strict.
Loosen zoning rules to build more housing
- Matt Van Epps—
- Darden Copeland—
- Andrew Koontz—
- Lowell ReynoldsIn their own words[7]
“Allow and provide for more multi-family dwellings in lower income areas.”
In the Nashville Banner candidate questionnaire (July 2026), on how he would address housing supply
Raise taxes on high earners or corporations
- Matt Van Epps—
- Darden CopelandSupports[6]
In a Nashville Banner questionnaire he supported restoring the top marginal income tax rate for the highest earners, closing the carried interest loophole and strengthening the corporate minimum tax.
- Andrew Koontz—
- Lowell ReynoldsSupports[7]
In the Nashville Banner questionnaire he said he supports greater taxes at the top of the income scale.
Expand public health coverage
- Matt Van EppsRecorded votes[21]
Voted no on Breaking the Gridlock Act (H.R. 1834, 2026-01-08), which extended enhanced ACA premium subsidies.
- Darden CopelandSupports[6]
In a Nashville Banner questionnaire he said to protect and expand Medicaid in Tennessee, strengthen Medicare and keep the ACA's enhanced subsidies in place.
- Andrew Koontz—
- Lowell ReynoldsIn their own words[7]
“Considerably more”
In the Nashville Banner candidate questionnaire (July 2026), answering whether the federal government should spend more or less on health care benefits
Broad tariffs on imported goods
- Matt Van EppsRecorded votes[22]
Voted no on Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11), which disapproved the tariffs on Canadian imports.
- Darden CopelandOpposes[6]
In a Nashville Banner questionnaire answer on easing cost-of-living increases he said tariffs and "wars of choice" don't help.
- Andrew Koontz—
- Lowell ReynoldsOpposes[7]
In the Nashville Banner questionnaire he said tariffs should end.
Require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote
- Matt Van EppsSupports[18]
Cosponsored H.R. 7296, the SAVE America Act (119th Congress), which would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.
- Darden Copeland—
- Andrew Koontz—
- Lowell Reynolds—
Require Congress to approve U.S. military action abroad
- Matt Van EppsRecorded votes[19][20]
Voted no on War Powers Resolution on Venezuela (H. Con. Res. 64, 2025-12-17), which would have directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Venezuela absent congressional authorization. Voted no on War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities (H. Con. Res. 86, 2026-06-03), which directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran absent congressional authorization.
- Darden CopelandSupports[6]
In a Nashville Banner questionnaire he said waging war should require a congressional declaration, with the President able to use military power to stop immediate threats.
- Andrew Koontz—
- Lowell ReynoldsSupports[7]
In the Nashville Banner questionnaire, asked whether a president needs congressional approval to wage war, he answered yes.
Research notes & limits
Van Epps' house.gov issues pages listed only topic categories with no dated statements suitable for citation, so his positions section is left empty; his record reflects his special-election win and committee assignments. No campaign website or public statements were found for independent candidate Andrew Koontz. Biographies for Copeland and Reynolds rest on their own Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey answers and are attributed as self-described; no biographical information was found for Andrew Koontz.
Sources · 32
Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.
- 1.Tennessee's 7th Congressional District election, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 2.Committees and Caucuses · Office of Congressman Matt Van Epps Official record
- 3.Special general election for U.S. House Tennessee District 7, December 2, 2025 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 4.Darden Copeland Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey responses · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
- 5.Lowell Reynolds Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey responses · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
- 6.Darden Copeland: Democratic Candidate for Congress, District 7 · Nashville Banner candidate questionnaire · 2026-07-16 Candidate's own words
- 7.Lowell Reynolds: Independent Candidate for Congress, District 7 · Nashville Banner (candidate questionnaire) News report
- 8.About · Office of Congressman Matt Van Epps Official record
- 9.Committees and Caucuses · Office of Congressman Matt Van Epps Official record
- 10.Meet Matt Van Epps · Matt Van Epps for Congress Candidate's own words
- 11.Gov. Lee Announces Key Leadership Transition at TN Department of General Services · Office of the Governor of Tennessee · 2024-09-16 Official record
- 12.Matt Van Epps · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
- 13.Matt Van Epps · Ballotpedia Reference
- 14.Gov. Lee Announces Key Leadership Transition at Tennessee Department of General Services · Office of the Governor of Tennessee · 2025-06-11 Official record
- 15.Special general election for U.S. House Tennessee District 7, December 2, 2025 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 16.Tennessee's 7th Congressional District election, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 17.Tennessee 7th District U.S. House election results 2026 · NBC News News report
- 18.H.R. 7296, the SAVE America Act (SAVE America Act) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 19.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Venezuela · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-12-17 Official record
- 20.Roll call: War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-06-03 Official record
- 21.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
- 22.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record
- 23.Darden Copeland Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey responses · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
- 24.Tennessee's 7th Congressional District election, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 25.Darden Copeland For Congress · Darden Copeland for Congress Candidate's own words
- 26.Darden Copeland: Democratic Candidate for Congress, District 7 · Nashville Banner · 2026-07-16 News report
- 27.U.S. House · Tennessee's 7th District results 2026 · NBC News News report
- 28.Tennessee's 7th Congressional District election, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 29.U.S. House · Tennessee's 7th District results 2026 · NBC News News report
- 30.Lowell Reynolds Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey responses · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
- 31.Lowell Reynolds · Ballotpedia Candidate's own words
- 32.U.S. House · Tennessee's 7th District results 2026 · NBC News News report