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Tennessee's 7th Congressional District special election, 2025
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A special election to fill the seat representing Tennessee's 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House will be held in 2025. Primaries are scheduled for October 7, 2025. The general election will be held December 2, 2025. The filing deadline was August 12, 2025.[1]
The special election will fill the vacancy left by Mark Green (R), who resigned on July 20, 2025.[2]
As of September 27, 2025, eight special elections have been called for the 119th Congress. From the 113th Congress to the 118th Congress, 80 special elections were held. For more data on historical congressional special elections, click here.
This page focuses on Tennessee's 7th Congressional District special election. For more in-depth information on the district's special primaries, see the following pages:
- Tennessee's 7th Congressional District special election, 2025 (October 7 Democratic primary)
- Tennessee's 7th Congressional District special election, 2025 (October 7 Republican primary)
Candidates and election results
Note: The following list includes official candidates only. Ballotpedia defines official candidates as people who:
- Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline
- Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies
This list will be updated after the candidate filing deadline has passed and the official list of candidates becomes available. Please contact us if you notice an official candidate missing from the list or the inclusion of a candidate who withdrew.
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 | ||
| Teresa Christie (Independent) | ||
| Bobby Dodge (Independent) | ||
| Robert James Sutherby (Independent) | ||
 | Jonathan Thorp (Independent)  | |
| ||||
| = 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
- 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 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 | |
| ||||
| = 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)
October 7 Republican primary
Ballotpedia identified the October 7, 2025, Republican primary as a battleground primary. For more on the Republican primary, click here. For more on the Democratic primary, click 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.[3]
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.[4]
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."[5] 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."[6] The last Democrat to represent the district was Ed Jones, who last represented the district in 1983.[7]
Five candidates — Jody Barrett, Gino Bulso, Stewart Parks, Lee Reeves, Matt Van Epps — lead in media attention ahead of the election.[6][8] Barrett, Bulso, and Reeves are state representatives. Parks is a real estate developer, and Van Epps is an Army combat veteran.[5]
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."[9][10] 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."[10]
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."[11]
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."[12] 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.[13]
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."[14] 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."[15]
Van Epps is a combat veteran and West Point graduate.[16] 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.[17] 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."[18] In his campaign announcement, Van Epps said, "It’s time to secure the border, protect our values and put Tennessee first."[5]
Stuart Cooper, Adolph Agbéko Dagan, Mason Foley, Jason Knight, Joseph Leurs, and Tres Wittum are also running.
Candidate profiles
This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office:
- Tennessee House of Representatives - District 69 (2022-present)
Biography: Barrett earned his bachelor's degree in history from Lincoln Memorial University and his law degree from the University of Mississippi. His career experience included working as an attorney.
Show sources
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office:
- Tennessee House of Representatives - District 61 (2022-present)
Biography: Bulso earned his bachelor's degree from Cornell College and his law degree from Emory University. His career experience included private legal practice.
Show sources
Sources: Gino Bulso 2025 campaign website, "Home," accessed August 26, 2025; Nashville Scene, "State Rep. Gino Bulso Launches 7th Congressional District Bid," July 28, 2025 ; Tennessee General Assembly, "Representative Gino Bulso," accessed August 26, 2025; Linkedin, "Gino Bulso," accessed August 26, 2025
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "Stuart Cooper is proud to be a 5th Generation Tennessean. Born and raised in Chattanooga, educated in Knoxville, and a Franklin resident since 2013, Cooper was valedictorian of his high school class, senior class president, and delegate to American Legion Boys State. He earned his bachelor's degree and MBA from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He was awarded the 2008 Marketplace Master's Award at the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee. A Bonafide, lifelong Republican, Cooper served as Congressman Mark Green's Chairman for Williamson County in 2018. Cooper’s dedication to the Republican party and its principles has earned him the praise of notable figures, including Ryan Higgins, former Senior Staff for President Donald J. Trump and Dr. Ben Carson, and Senior Advisor to Charlie Kirk. Stuart Cooper is a dedicated husband of 26 years to his college sweetheart, Jenny. Stuart and Jenny have four children, two in college at Middle Tennessee State University, and two attending Williamson County Schools in Franklin. For the past 30 years, Cooper has served his family, church, community and business leaders in various capacities. As a businessman, Cooper boasts 25 years of business experience in housing, professional services, healthcare and technology. He has driven millions of dollars of revenue to multiple high-growth companies. His M&A (mergers and acquisitions) work and new business development efforts have created jobs in TN."
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "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."
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Biography: Parks earned his bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Mississippi. His career experience included working as a real estate developer.
Show sources
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office:
- Tennessee House of Representatives - District 65 (2024-present)
Biography: Reeves earned his bachelor's degree from Emory University and his law degree from Georgetown University. His career experience included working in real estate.
Show sources
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Biography: Van Epps graduated from West Point and served 10 years active duty in the Army. He later served as deputy chief operating officer in the Tennessee governor's office then as commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services.
Show sources
See more
- See more here: Tennessee's 7th Congressional District special election, 2025 (October 7 Republican primary)
Voting information
- See also: Voting in Tennessee
See also
- Special elections to the 119th United States Congress (2025-2026)
- Tennessee's 7th Congressional District special election, 2025 (October 7 Democratic primary)
- Tennessee's 7th Congressional District special election, 2025 (October 7 Republican primary)
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "Secretary of State Tre Hargett Provides Timeline for Seventh Congressional District Special Election," July 24, 2025
- ↑ The Tennessean, "US Rep. Mark Green will step down July 20. Who could replace him?" July 8, 2025
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "Secretary of State Tre Hargett Provides Timeline for Seventh Congressional District Special Election," July 24, 2025
- ↑ The Tennessean, "US Rep. Mark Green will step down July 20. Who could replace him?" July 8, 2025
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 WPLN News, "Meet the congressional candidates for Tennessee’s special election," August 14, 2025
- ↑ Congress.gov, "Representative Ed Jones," accessed September 8, 2025
- ↑ Williamson Scene, "Republican Congressional Candidates Engage Voters in Franklin Forum," August 20, 2025
- ↑ Lewis County Herald, "Rep. Barrett Receives First-Ever Perfect Score on Legislative Report Card: Most Conservative Legislator in State History," June 5, 2025
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Jody Barrett 2025 campaign website, "About Jody Barrett," accessed August 25, 2025
- ↑ Gino Bulso 2025 campaign website, "Meet Gino," accessed August 25, 2025
- ↑ Stewart Parks campaign website, "Home," accessed August 25, 2025
- ↑ Tennessee Star, "Tennessean Stewart Parks Among J6 ‘Hostages’ Pardoned by President Trump," January 20, 2025
- ↑ Lee Reeves 2025 campaign website, "Home," accessed August 25, 2025
- ↑ Lee Reeves 2025 campaign website, "Meet Lee Reeves," accessed August 25, 2025
- ↑ Matt Van Epps 2025 campaign website, "home," accessed August 25, 2025
- ↑ Nashville Banner, "June 11: Matt Van Epps Ready to Run; TCOG Sounds the Alarm," June 11, 2025
- ↑ Fox17, "Mark Green endorses Matt Van Epps in Tennessee race," July 14, 2025
