Joe Leurs

Joe Leurs

Republican Party

Candidate, U.S. House Tennessee District 7

Elections and appointments

Next election

October 7, 2025

Education

High school

McGavock High School

Associate

Central Texas College, 2012

Bachelor's

Lipscomb University, 2014

Graduate

Lipscomb University, 2016

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Marine Corps

Years of service

1997 - 2010

Personal

Birthplace

Valdosta, Ga.

Religion

Christian

Profession

Detective

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Twitter

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Joe Leurs (Republican Party) is running in a special election to the U.S. House to represent Tennessee's 7th Congressional District. He is on the ballot in the special Republican primary on October 7, 2025.^[source]

Leurs completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Joe Leurs was born in Valdosta, Georgia. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1997 to 2010. Leurs earned a high school diploma from McGavock High School, an associate degree from Central Texas College in 2012, a bachelor's degree from Lipscomb University in 2014, and a graduate degree from Lipscomb University in 2016. His career experience includes working as a police detective and entrepreneur. As of 2025, Leurs was affiliated with the Marine Corps League, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Tennessee Veterans Association, the Montgomery County GOP, and the Fraternal Order of Police.

2025 battleground election

See also: Tennessee's 7th Congressional District special election, 2025 (October 7 Republican primary)

Ballotpedia identified the October 7, 2025, Republican primary as a battleground race. The summary below is from our coverage of this election, found here.

The Republican special primary election for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District will be held on October 7, 2025. The general election will be held on December 2, 2025.

The special election will fill the vacancy Mark Green (R) left when he resigned on July 20, 2025, to take a job in the private sector.

WPLN News' Marianna Bacallao wrote, "The Republican side of the race is crowded with 11 men vying for the GOP nomination, the majority of whom have aligned themselves with President Donald Trump in campaign materials." Compared to the Democratic primary, Nashville Banner's Sarah Grace Taylor said, "The Republican primary may be even more complex to predict, with a crowded field of similar candidates lacking big-name contenders." The last Democrat to represent the district was Ed Jones, who last represented the district in 1983.

Five candidates — Jody Barrett, Gino Bulso, Stewart Parks, Lee Reeves, Matt Van Epps — lead in media attention ahead of the election. Barrett, Bulso, and Reeves are state representatives. Parks is a real estate developer, and Van Epps is an Army combat veteran.

Barrett was first elected to represent House District 69 in 2022. Barrett highlighted his perfect score on Tennessee Stands' legislative report card, and his campaign website said he was "graded the most conservative legislator in Tennessee history." He is running on his record as a state representative, and his campaign website said, "He has consistently stood up for life, defended the Second Amendment, backed law enforcement, and fought back against radical leftist ideology infiltrating our schools, our borders, and our way of life. He is Tennessee-First and America-First."

Bulso was first elected to represent House District 61 in 2022. He is running on his record as a state representative, and his campaign website stated, "In the state legislature, Gino has led the charge in supporting President Trump’s America First agenda. He championed the TRUMP Act to end taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal immigrants, sponsored a ban on sanctuary cities, and blocked Chinese Communist Party-linked entities from buying Tennessee farmland. He defended girls’ sports from woke gender ideology, safeguarded medical freedom during the COVID era, and stood strong for constitutional carry and Second Amendment rights."

Parks, a real estate developer, was arrested on June 3, 2021, in relation to his attendance at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. His campaign website said, "To be able to serve in Congress – to fight for America First and for President Trump’s agenda – after being deprived of my own freedom and thrown into prison by the corrupt Biden Administration, would send the perfect message to the elite political establishment." On the first day of his second term, President Donald Trump (R) pardoned Parks among a group of about 1,500 individuals convicted of crimes related to the Capitol breach.

Reeves was first elected to represent House District 65 in 2024. Reeves said, "President Trump is our quarterback, leading the charge to restore America's strength, security, and values. I'm ready to run the route, take the handoff, or set the block-whatever it takes to advance the conservative principles that have made our district, our state, and our country strong. That's precisely what I've done in the Tennessee House, and I'll bring that same fight to Washington." His campaign website stated, "Lee Reeves fully backs President Trump and his America First agenda to secure our borders, strengthen our nation's defenses, and restore the traditional values that made America great."

Van Epps is a combat veteran and West Point graduate. Gov. Bill Lee (R) appointed Van Epps commissioner for the Tennessee Department of General Services in 2024, and Van Epps resigned in June 2025 to run in this election. Green endorsed Van Epps, calling him "a decorated combat veteran, a relentless fighter, a principled conservative, and exactly the kind of leader the 7th District wants as its voice in Washington." In his campaign announcement, Van Epps said, "It’s time to secure the border, protect our values and put Tennessee first."

Stuart Cooper, Adolph Agbéko Dagan, Mason Foley, Jason Knight, Joseph Leurs, and Tres Wittum are also running.

Elections

2025

See also: Tennessee's 7th Congressional District special election, 2025

Tennessee's 7th Congressional District special election, 2025 (October 7 Democratic primary)

Tennessee's 7th Congressional District special election, 2025 (October 7 Republican primary)

General election

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

The primary will occur on October 7, 2025. The general election will occur on December 2, 2025. Additional general election candidates will be added here following the primary.

Special general election for U.S. House Tennessee District 7

Teresa Christie, Bobby Dodge, Robert James Sutherby, and Jonathan Thorp are running in the special general election for U.S. House Tennessee District 7 on December 2, 2025.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Teresa Christie (Independent)
	Submit photo	Bobby Dodge (Independent)
	Submit photo	Robert James Sutherby (Independent)
		Jonathan Thorp (Independent)

---

	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Steven Hooper (Independent)
• Scerick Richard Longcope (Independent)
• David Richard Holbert (Independent)
• Caleb Stack (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Special Democratic primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 7

Aftyn Behn, Darden Copeland, Vincent Dixie, and Bo Mitchell are running in the special Democratic primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 7 on October 7, 2025.

		Candidate
		Aftyn Behn
		Darden Copeland
		Vincent Dixie
		Bo Mitchell

---

	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Joy Davis (D)

Republican primary election

Special Republican primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 7

The following candidates are running in the special Republican primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 7 on October 7, 2025.

		Candidate
		Jody Barrett
		Gino Bulso
		Stuart Cooper
		Adolph Agbéko Dagan
		Mason Foley
		Jason Knight
		Joe Leurs
		Stewart Parks
		Lee Reeves
		Matt Van Epps
		Tres Wittum

---

	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Robby Moore (R)
• Robert James Sutherby (R)
• Brandon Ogles (R)
• Eddie Lee Murphy (R)
• John Wilt (R)
• John Wesley Smith IV (R)
• Michael Vogel (R)
• Noah Cline (R)

Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls

We provide results for polls that are included in polling aggregation from RealClearPolitics, when available. We will regularly check for polling aggregation for this race and add polls here once available. To notify us of polls available for this race, please email us.

Election campaign finance

Name	Party	Receipts*	Disbursements**	Cash on hand	Date
Jody Barrett	Republican Party	$241,872	$171,718	$70,154	As of September 17, 2025
Gino Bulso	Republican Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Stuart Cooper	Republican Party	$34,313	$27,409	$6,904	As of September 17, 2025
Adolph Agbéko Dagan	Republican Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Mason Foley	Republican Party	$396,278	$272,361	$123,917	As of September 17, 2025
Jason Knight	Republican Party	$41,170	$36,067	$5,103	As of September 17, 2025
Joe Leurs	Republican Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Stewart Parks	Republican Party	$334,307	$330,034	$4,273	As of September 17, 2025
Lee Reeves	Republican Party	$569,015	$487,487	$81,528	As of September 17, 2025
Matt Van Epps	Republican Party	$359,256	$249,877	$109,379	As of September 17, 2025
Tres Wittum	Republican Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2025. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC). * According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." ** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election. *** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

Satellite spending

See also: Satellite spending

Satellite spending describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.

If available, this section includes links to online resources tracking satellite spending in this election. To notify us of a resource to add, email us.

By candidate	By election
Jody Barrett Gino Bulso Stuart Cooper Adolph Dagan Mason Foley Jason Knight Joseph Leurs Stewart Parks Lee Reeves Matt Van Epps	Federal Election Commission

Endorsements

Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.

Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Joe Leurs completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Leurs' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a devoted husband and proud father to an amazing 12-year-old daughter. My life has been shaped by a strong sense of service, both to my country and my community. I am a former United States Marine Corps Infantry Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO), a retired Army Reserve NCO, a retired Undercover Detective with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD), a published inventor, and an entrepreneur.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Protecting our people from migrant crime, lawlessness in the streets, revolving jail cells, open borders, anemic defense capabilities.
• Protecting your hard earned money, shrinking the government, exposing fraud waste and abuse, lowering taxes, and reducing the deficit.
• Protecting our border against illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and human trafficking.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Protecting our borders. Protecting our communities, cities, and states. Standing for the rule of law and prosecution under local, state, and federal laws. Ensuring our children are protected from indoctrination and those who wish them harm. Deportation of illegal aliens, especially those who commit violent crimes against American citizens.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Selflessness, putting public/civic duty above political ambition.

Proven leadership and real-world experience.

A commitment to achieving clear results is essential.

Adhering to lasting American values, like limited government, personal freedom, and respect for the Constitution.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Serving Constituents First:

An elected official’s primary responsibility is to represent and serve the people of their district.

Upholding the Constitution:
An elected official has a duty to defend constitutional liberties, including free speech, gun rights, and states’ rights. Congress is the a guardian of the Constitution, tasked with preserving America’s foundational principles.

Ensuring National Security:
An elected official must work to ensure our country is secure against. Especially at our borders which includes supporting our military and law enforcement as a core congressional duty.

Restoring Fiscal Responsibility:
An elected official must be fiscally responsible. By reducing government spending, stopping reckless debt increases, and shrinking bureaucracy. All of which are essential to preserving economic freedom.

5. Passing Common-Sense Legislation

An elected official should write/pass laws that deliver results that matter, focusing on policies that positively affect everyday Americans. This includes improving veterans’ services, supporting small businesses, and protecting parental rights.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

On January 28, 1986, I was eight years old and living in Houston, Texas. My father worked as a capacity engineer for AT&T. At school, we watched the Challenger Space Shuttle launch live on television. Everything seemed normal until our teacher suddenly turned off the TV. I did not understand why until I got home. My parents explained that the shuttle had exploded, and all seven astronauts had died, including the teacher, who was a crew augment. As a child who often dreamed of becoming an astronaut, especially since I lived near NASA, the news was very upsetting. It was the first time I faced a national tragedy and realized that even the most inspiring efforts can end in loss.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

Direct Representation of the People:

Members of the House are elected every two years and represent smaller, localized districts. This makes them the closest federal officials to the people. Meaning the people’s voice can he heard as legislation is passed, as it directly affects constituents.

Origination of Revenue Bills:
The Constitution gives the House the power to start tax and spending legislation. This matters because it ensures that those most accountable to voters are in control of the government’s money.

Larger, More Diverse Membership:
With 435 voting members, the House includes a wide range of voices, ideas, and communities. This creates a dynamic forum for national debate, often making it more partisan and faster-moving than the Senate.

Frequent Elections Drive Accountability Every 2 Years:

Short terms ensure members remain highly accountable to their constituents. I support term limits and voter power, which align with the House’s goal of constant accountability and renewal.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

I believe real-world experience matters more, as my military, law enforcement, and small business background is the kind of practical, service-based leadership needed in Washington. This can be contrasted with career politicians, who are out of touch and more focused on re-election than results.

I believe I would be a strong candidate for congressional office because I bring a fresh perspective and offer solutions from outside the political bubble. My focus is on service over self-interest. Results-oriented mindset, not tied to political games. Through almost three decades, I am closer to the concerns of everyday Americans because I am an everyday American.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Border Security & National Sovereignty:

The crisis at the southern border during the Biden Administration is one of the most urgent threats as millions of people crossed our border unvetted, of which many of them were military age males from countries that have an outspoken hatred of America. Unchecked illegal immigration endangers public safety, strains resources, and undermines the rule of law.

Government Overreach & Erosion of Constitutional Rights:
The growth of federal power is a major danger to all Americans. It threatens individual freedoms, state sovereignty, and parental rights. Preserving the Constitution and decentralizing power are vital for America’s future generations.

Economic Instability & National Debt:
We are witnessing the consequences of reckless spending and increasing national debt. Everything in our daily lives is more expensive because of failed policies. Failing to restore fiscal responsibility will lead to more inflation, potential economic collapse, or fewer opportunities for future generations.

Decline in National Values & Patriotism:

There is a loss of traditional American values. This includes respect for the military, law enforcement, faith, family, and personal responsibility. Cultural division and political extremism are clear threats to national unity.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Yes. Two years promotes accountability, and I support the two-year term as an important constitutional feature that:

Keeps representatives accountable to their voters.

Forces them to stay engaged with their districts.

Limits detachment from the people or political entrenchment.

I am a strong supporter of term limits, voter control, and service over careerism. Short terms are a check against long-term complacency or corruption in office.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I believe career politicians contribute to the problems in Washington. Term limits are essential for restoring accountability and bringing in new leaders who focus on service rather than power. Public office should be a temporary duty, not a lifelong career.

By limiting time in office we can reduce corruption, encourage fresh ideas, and keep elected officials focused on results rather than re-election.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Yes, but with clear limits. I support principled compromise and believe elected officials should work together to achieve meaningful results without compromising their core values. I am willing to collaborate with others, as long as the outcome respects the Constitution, personal freedom, and the national interest.

I would oppose any compromise on fundamental principles like the Second Amendment, border security, or fiscal restraint. Deals struck for political gain rather than the public good. Backroom deals or unnecessary government expansion.

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

The House’s power to originate all revenue-raising bills is an important tool for restoring fiscal responsibility and putting taxpayers first.

Cutting Wasteful Spending should be at the forefront of any new spending bill. As a member of the House, I would push for spending cuts, promote balanced, taxpayer-focused budgets.

I support limited government, free markets, and would use the House’s role in tax legislation to oppose tax increases, support pro-business, pro-growth policies.

As a strong advocate for term limits, voter control, and prioritizing service over careerism, I believe that a short term serves as a check against long-term complacency or corruption in office.

How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?

The U.S. House should use its investigative powers as a way to ensure accountability, not as a form of political theater.

Such accountability includes holding the government accountable, as we need to restore trust and transparency in government.

I support investigations that:
Expose corruption, abuse of power, or waste.
Protect constitutional rights.
Ensure executive agencies are acting within their legal limits.

I would oppose partisan abuse and any use of investigative powers as partisan tools or for personal attacks. I would also advocate for investigations to be based on facts and serve the public interest.

What role should the United States government have in the development or use of artificial intelligence?

Protect National Security. As a military veteran and advocate for strong defense, I would support federal investment in AI for defense and cybersecurity.

Protecting against foreign adversaries, such as China and Russia, and gaining AI superiority. Preventing the use of AI in threats to critical infrastructure or military readiness.

I oppose intrusive AI surveillance in any form by the government. There needs to be strict limits on how agencies use AI, especially regarding privacy and civil liberties. Protection of First and Fourth Amendment rights in the context of AI-powered tools is of the utmost importance.

As a small business owner and proponent of free enterprise, I am in favor of private-sector-led innovation in AI. Oppose heavy regulation that stifles entrepreneurship or technological progress. I fully support and encourage ethical use while opposing extensive federal controls, while understanding the need for basic legislative guardrails in order to prevent misuse in areas such as fraud, election interference, or criminal activity.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign finance summary

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Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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Joe Leurs campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2025*	U.S. House Tennessee District 7	On the Ballot primary	$0	N/A**
Grand total			$0	N/A**
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

See also

2025 Elections

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Candidate

U.S. House Tennessee District 7

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Footnotes

[show]

Tennessee's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Marsha Blackburn (R)

Bill Hagerty (R)

Representatives

District 1

Diana Harshbarger (R)

District 2

Tim Burchett (R)

District 3

Charles Fleischmann (R)

District 4

Scott DesJarlais (R)

District 5

Andy Ogles (R)

District 6

John Rose (R)

District 7

Vacant

District 8

David Kustoff (R)

District 9

Steve Cohen (D)

Republican Party (9)

Democratic Party (1)

Vacancies (1)