Robert James Sutherby

This candidate is participating in a 2025 battleground election. Click here to read more about that election.

Robert James Sutherby

Independent

Candidate, U.S. House Tennessee District 7

Elections and appointments

Next election

December 2, 2025

Education

High school

Grass Lake High School

Associate

Jackson Community College, 1987

Bachelor's

Spring Arbor University

Graduate

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 2021

Personal

Birthplace

Flint, Mich.

Religion

Christian

Profession

Pastor

Robert James Sutherby (independent) 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 general election on December 2, 2025.^[source] He did not appear on the ballot for the special Republican primary on October 7, 2025.

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

Biography

Robert James Sutherby was born in Flint, Michigan. He earned a high school diploma from Grass Lake High School, an associate degree from Jackson Community College in 1987, a bachelor's degree from Spring Arbor University, and a graduate degree from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 2021. His career experience includes working as a pastor, insurance agency owner, mortgage brokerage net branch owner, cable TV show co-host, and Bible study teacher. Sutherby has been affiliated with Christian Community Outreach Center, Love AFA, Plumley Nursing Home, Hope Center, NOBTS Alumni, and Good News Club.

2025 battleground election

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

Ballotpedia identified the December 2, 2025, special election as a battleground election. The summary below is from our coverage of this election, found here.

Aftyn Behn (D), Matt Van Epps (R), and four independent candidates are running in the special election for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District on December 2, 2025. The special election will fill the vacancy created when the former incumbent, Rep. Mark Green (R), resigned on July 20, 2025.

The Tennessee Lookout's Sam Stockard wrote, "The special election for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District seat is shaping up as a classic conservative-liberal battle that pits urban versus rural voters in a heavily red region." According to The Tennessean's Austin Hornbostel and Vivian Jones, "Tennessee’s 7th District has been represented by Republicans since 1983. But new district boundaries drawn by the Republican-controlled state legislature in 2021 moved the district into northern Nashville and added a significant Democrat population. Since redistricting, Republicans have not won more than 60% of the vote."

Behn represents the 51st District in the Tennessee House of Representatives. She was elected in a 2023 special election and re-elected in 2024. Behn earned her bachelor's degree in psychology and her master's degree in social work from the University of Texas at Austin. She worked as a social worker and community organizer.

Behn's campaign website said, "She’s now running for Congress after the so-called 'Big, Beautiful Bill' passed — a giveaway to the wealthy that codified the largest transfer of wealth from working people to the rich in American history." Behn is running on her record as an activist and state representative. In a campaign ad, Behn says, "As a state representative in Tennessee, I fought to eliminate Tennessee's grocery tax. In Congress, I will fight to make sure your rural hospitals and nursing homes stay open, and I will make sure that no one loses their healthcare because they can't afford it."

Van Epps was a Tennessee Army National Guard lieutenant colonel and a special operations helicopter pilot. He served as commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services and as deputy chief operating officer in the governor's office. He earned his bachelor's degree in political science and mechanical engineering from West Point and his master's degree in public administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Van Epps' campaign website said he would bring "conservative leadership grounded in service, experience, and unwavering commitment to Tennessee values and President Trump's America First agenda." President Donald Trump (R) endorsed Van Epps days before the primary election. Van Epps said, "Together, we will bring down the cost of living, keep our families and communities safe, lower the cost of prescription drugs and healthcare, deport criminal illegals, and get our veterans the care and support they've earned."

Independents Teresa Christie, Bobby Dodge, Robert James Sutherby, and Jonathan Thorp are also running.

Heading into the election, Republicans have a 219-213 majority in the U.S. House with three vacancies. This will be the sixth special congressional election in 2025, after two April elections in Florida's 1st District and 6th District, two September elections in Virginia's 11th District and Arizona's 7th District, and a November election in Texas' 18th District.

Elections

2025

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

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

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

General election

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

The following candidates are running in the special general election for U.S. House Tennessee District 7 on December 2, 2025.

		Candidate
		Aftyn Behn (D)
		Matt Van Epps (R)
		Teresa Christie (Independent)
	Submit photo	Bobby Dodge (Independent)
		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 defeated Darden Copeland, Bo Mitchell, and Vincent Dixie in the special Democratic primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 7 on October 7, 2025.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Aftyn Behn	27.9	8,648
		Darden Copeland	24.9	7,716
		Bo Mitchell	24.2	7,492
		Vincent Dixie	23.1	7,146

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. Source	Total votes: 31,002
= 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 ran in the special Republican primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 7 on October 7, 2025.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Matt Van Epps	51.6	19,001
		Jody Barrett	25.3	9,335
		Gino Bulso	10.9	4,004
		Lee Reeves	5.2	1,929
		Mason Foley	2.8	1,022
		Stewart Parks	1.6	595
		Jason Knight	1.0	381
		Stuart Cooper (Unofficially withdrew)	0.6	239
		Tres Wittum	0.4	133
		Joe Leurs	0.3	122
		Adolph Agbéko Dagan	0.3	93

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. Source	Total votes: 36,854
= 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

• 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)
• Robby Moore (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
Aftyn Behn	Democratic Party	$1,230,629	$708,892	$521,737	As of November 12, 2025
Matt Van Epps	Republican Party	$992,716	$761,549	$231,167	As of November 12, 2025
Teresa Christie	Independent	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Bobby Dodge	Independent	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Robert James Sutherby	Independent	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Jonathan Thorp	Independent	$12,319	$13,530	$-1,211	As of November 12, 2025
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
Aftyn Behn Matt Van Epps	Open Secrets 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

Robert James Sutherby completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Sutherby's 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 Pastor serving in Big Sandy Tennessee. Much like a Pastor I view the role of this position to be one that serves others. While the church has been going through extreme persecution I felt led to run for this position as it seems each election cycle it is normally the one who spends the most or has the most spent for them that wins. This is the case in the Republican primary again. It seems each year that people are more and more disillusioned by what becomes a forced choice. So I am running for those that feel they are being marginalized in both the parties. Their are six candidates left but notice the silence in having debate or discussion with the independent candidates. The race is pitted as either R or D. Over 70 percent of the democrats did NOT vote for their candidate. And nearly 50% of Republicans did not vote for the candidate. If all these people and include the Christian Community voted for me they would get their candidate, not one that was hand picked by the last person holding the job. Or you would not be forced to vote for the AOC of Dickson County Democrats. This should always be about the people of the district. Their should be a rule that you must live in the district to run, if elected I would put forth such a bill. I would go further to have more open discourse with all people. If elected I would actually ask many of the candidates from both sides to join together to best serve the district.

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?

• Anti War, if the war does not help the United States, then we need to stay out of them. The only war I see we should have is about the deficit. Over a trillion dollars in interest each year. The shutdown is showing us firsthand of what is essential and non-essential. We must pare down things and get the debt handled. The DOGE group made many cuts and both parties should be embarrassed by the pork that was found. I notice no one claimed that DOGE lied about the many absolutely ridiculous expenditures. We need to be strategic from information currently known it would appear intercepting boats before they get to the United States makes good sense. Yes, this in unconventional but has doing nothing been working? NO!
• AI this topic needs to be reigned in. The impact is going to be way beyond what pundits think. The effects are going to displace many workers and in this vein we need to lower the amount of immigration folks coming in. There is going to be many layoffs coming and to help the Americans already here we need to prepare for that, by not continuing the nearly one million a year immigrants each year. The times have changed and as a congressman we need those that are looking ahead on the horizon and discerning what is coming with these changes. We need action not reaction.
• Economy, we need to not keep looking back on trends and impacts of the past when there are so many new technologies coming out that our economy will not be traditional in any sense in the near future. It is clear that democrats (not all) but the move of the left of the party is clearly towards communism. Some would say socialism. Shortly you will see what that looks like in New York City with Mayor Zohran Mandami. This is not the path that Americans as a collective want to see.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Helping the Oppressed

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Jesus, Jesus the calling of a Christian that is born again in the Spirit. According to the Holy Bible in John 14v6 I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the Father but by me. If our country could become a Christian nation we would really have something. But instead Gods holy seed of the Bible is seldom followed and even less appreciated for what it is. A love letter that He wrote so that all could be saved. We now in the spirit of anti christ have now courted all kinds of religions this is not the answer. Jesus is the answer. Jesus is "the Christ'. People continue to disavow scripture many do not even believe in the miracle of His virgin birth. Everyone wants to be right and love to add or subtract from scripture, it's now about us, it's about what HE DID FOR US. The bible makes clear in Genesis 2v7 we were born a living soul, that has a body not a body that has a soul. The soul will live forever in one of two place heaven or hell, there is no purgatory in the bible, there is no joseph smith references or Ellen g white references or any other man-made nonsense. Jesus said for us to Love the Lord with ALL of our heart, mind, soul and strength. Not just one hour on Sunday or Saturday. Jesus paid a price no one could pay on their own, and through His shed blood there is remission of sins, not doing a bunch of good but dying into His death like discussed in Romans 6. The signs of His return are so obvious, yet we tend to focus on everything but the Lord. We totally miss the concept that no one is truly good. Look at the story of Noah. But if our position is "in Christ" and we have repented and been born again and believe and have faith totally in the Lord that we will see our family of believers in heaven. That is why Jesus said who is my brother or mother? and said you are as followers of me that love me and keep my commandments. This campaign is a total success if just one person comes 2 faith

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

To simply represent the people that elected you. That means doing their bidding, what they want to see done on their behalf, whether it gets passed or not to show that you are representing them to the best of your ability

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

To be accessible and to follow the wishes and help the people in the district get the resources or contacts they need to deal with the matters that are affecting them.

What legacy would you like to leave?

That I love Jesus, that my action in thought and more importantly in deed, James 1v22 tells us to be a doer of the word. This is one reason I am so encourage by Turning Point Faith that people after Charlie Kirk was martyred are answering a call they cannot explain. Charlie left a great one I only got to have a single one on one with Charlie in Nashville at TP Faith, he was anointed by the Lord. I have no illusions of grandeur as the Lord came as a servant to all. He helped everyone. Currently I am blessed to be mentoring a young man each day after school, prayer, bible, school, chess. This is putting one's treasure in heaven. It's not a financial transaction. many are looking to check the boxes of what they think versus what the Bible says. This is where man continually finds himself wanting the ways of the world as the legacy. Jesus said in Matt 16v26 what good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet lose their soul? or what can ANYONE give in exchange for their soul? Yet people continue to focus on a self-legacy, continue to be covetous, continue to have various forms of idolatry. Yet at the same time demand to be in heaven or worse feel they deserve to be. The reality we all deserve HELL but by the grace and mercy of Jesus there is a way. But this path is not based on the productions of church across America, it's not who has the best music production, it's not who has the best coffee it really comes down to what the Bible says about salvation and that one MUST be born again on the Spirit, if a person does not think that to be the case they are lost according to the Bible. It's time for people to put more time into the Bible if they do not understand it please pray James 1v5-6 these verses did an incredible job for me as the Lord answered my prayer for wisdom. But if you cannot believe and pray in faith it says you won't have a breakthrough. Understand the Christian life is not one of ease.

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

The first president I knew that had a brain. One that could understand the people and one that even had a better understand of government. November 4th, 1980. I would have been 14 years old.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Newspaper boy for Jackson Citizen Patriot only 3 years. I started at age 11 got an exemption to start before 12. Was nearly 2 miles to my first stop from where we lived. Danny Zautner a classmate of mine had the route I live on and that gem was kept away from me. Danny was the first person to pass away from our class with a rare cancer, I still think of him from time to time.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Holy Bible this is a book of instruction, wisdom and guidance for anyone. Its Gods Holy word that is the seed for our human hearts. Its sharper than any 2-edged sword. This is God's love letter to us. How we can spend so little time preparing for eternity each week makes me weep.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

The Easter Bunny so I could warn the kids what Easter means to followers of Jesus, it's not bunnies and eggs. But the crucifixion of Jesus and how He paid the price at calvary

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

HAS been was an alcoholic, was a compulsive gambler, was a person who had sex prior to marriage. Jesus delivered me and made me a new creature that still has a long ways to go but that already is a long ways ago now.

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

Its a melting pot of people and places that should work for the people. They need to introduce a bill that during a shutdown congress folks also don't get paid.

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

Not really, you could have served as any position for some local unit of government and sadly government people take a government mindset and sometimes miss what the people want or need. How has experience worked out getting to 38 or ever how many trillion in debt. I would suggest that experience didn't help yet we have congress people in service for eons.

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

AI and the battle for the soul of the country.

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

Yes, but a max time in congress needs to be attached. To much structuring and angling for higher seats

What are your thoughts on term limits?

YES PLEASE, this would help with all the money it takes to run as well as lobby. Their needs to be more commitment to not take Pac money in the local offices.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Jesus

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

My own, and it's sad. Lying Law enforcement to the point judge told the prosecutor "You have a perjury problem" yet with all the aggravated perjury was their action taken on behalf of the victim? to date none that I am aware of. Even reading about the fake DUI stops is also another you have to be kidding. In my case it was life in prison. This kind of thing needs to stop, along with any other fake stops.

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

Depends on the policy

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?

NONE, not interested in raising revenue!

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

Wisely

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

I see there is a limit of 750 characters and would not want to alienate anyone.

Candidates hear many personal stories from voters. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching or memorable?

Yes many most from Christians that have spoken their faith and following of Jesus.

What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?

Getting on the ballot

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

NONE that train is already running and out of the station. Let's get the government debt fixed before trying to legislate something that few in congress would fully understand.

What legislation would you enact related to election administration in the United States?

Go back to the concept of Election Day. I remember as a day one Trump guy, getting spit at, cursed at, and even death threats one even made a government-controlled website. What kind of thing is this. It's sad as Pastor and telling the congregation that Joe Biden would win in 2020 prior to the election and listed many of the reasons why. How disgusting! I would simplify it back to paper ballots. Credibility whether warranted or not the machines did not help in this matter. When I served on the recount committee when Jill Stein asks for one on Donald Trump it was all hand counted. Machines are all able to be made fallible so why use them? The idea there is a fight to not have ID to vote is more nonsense.

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Campaign finance summary

Campaign finance information for this candidate is not yet available from the Federal Elections Commission. That information will be published here once it is available.

See also

2025 Elections

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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)