Republican candidates for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District Matt Van Epps, Lee Reeves, Gino Bulso and Jody Barrett debate at CabaRay Showroom in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Sept. 5, 2025.

WASHINGTON - More than a dozen candidates are running in Tennessee’s special election primary on Oct. 7 to fill the U.S. House seat left vacant by former Republican Rep. Mark Green, who resigned from Congress in July.

Both GOP and Democratic voters in parts of Davidson, Williamson, Montgomery and eleven other counties are heading to the polls to pick a replacement representative for the Nashville-area's 7th Congressional District. Considered a safe Republican seat, Green won re-election last November to a fourth term with nearly 60% of the vote.

President Donald Trump last week endorsed candidate Matt Van Epps in the crowded GOP primary, calling the former state official a "MAGA Warrior." Whoever wins the Republican and Democratic primaries will advance to the general election, which will be held on Dec. 2.

Polls are set to close at 7 p.m. CT on Oct. 7, according to the Tennessee Secretary of State’s website.

Tennessee's election winner will be crucial for Republicans and Speaker Mike Johnson's ability to lead the chamber. The GOP currently holds a thin 219-214 majority in the House. With all members present, Johnson can currently only afford to lose two Republican votes on any bill, assuming all Democrats are opposed.

Here’s what to know about the primary special election:

Who is running in the Tennessee special election primary?

Nine Republicans are running in the primary special election after Tennessee state Rep. Lee Reeves and businessman Stuart Cooper both suspended their campaigns last week when Trump endorsed Van Epps.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee late last year appointed Van Epps to serve as commissioner of the state's General Services Department. He previously served as a top coordinator for Tennessee's COVID-19 response.

Van Epps has framed his campaign around his service as a U.S. Army helicopter combat pilot, and his support for Trump. A local military veteran filed a complaint with the Tennessee National Guard against Van Epps alleging inappropriate use of his military uniform in a campaign ad in violation of Pentagon rules.

The other Republicans running in the race include Tennessee state Rep. Jody Barrett, state Rep. Gino Bulso, former high school teacher and veteran Adolph Agbéko Dagan, Mason Foley, Montgomery County Commissioner Jason Knight, retired combat Marine Joe Leurs and former state Senate research analyst Tres Wittum.

On the Democratic side, Tennessee state Rep. Aftyn Alyssa Behn, state Rep. Vincent Dixie, businessman Darden Copeland and state Rep. Bo Mitchell are running for their party's nomination to compete in the general election for the House seat.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tennessee voters to pick their next House candidates: Who does Trump support?

Reporting by Sudiksha Kochi and Vivian Jones, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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