Independent groups have spent $2.5 million in the Middle Tennessee U.S. House primary

Matt Van Epps, former Tennessee Commissioner of General Services, has received hundreds of thousands of dollars of support in campaign ads from independent political action committees in the GOP primary for the 7th Congressional District. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

The hastily thrown-together video began with a cutout of the Dickson Republican state Rep. Jody Barrett floating in water, and the words “swamp politician” emblazoned across the screen.

Another cutout-based commercial features Matt Van Epps, the former Tennessee General Services Commissioner, in his U.S. Army uniform in various shots, emphasizing that he’s a “MAGA warrior.”

These are two of the advertisements created through part of the nearly $2.5 million spent by independent groups to influence the U.S House