I do not yet know for whom I will vote. I may not vote or I may write in my own name, or I may vote for one of these candidates. I am narrowing the field of those for whom I am considering voting. I find no one I really like, so I am looking for someone who seems smart, qualified, has something of substance to say, and is more than just a Trump ass kisser. For what it is worth, I have placed a star by the names of the candidates for whom I might vote.
Unfortunately, all of the major contenders for the Republican nomination seem to be outdoing themselves in trying to show they are the most aligned with Trump. Whomever gets the nomination will be a Trump loyalist.
The Seventh Congressional District is overwhelmingly a Republican District, so whoever wins the Republican nomination will most likely be the next Congressman from that district. So, while we are more than likely going to end up with a Trump loyalist with no backbone to oppose Trump's march toward authoritarianism, I still think it is better to have a smart, thoughtful person who knows what he is doing is wrong rather than one who is an absolute non-thinking Trump sycophant. That is to say, I would rather have someone like Mark Green than someone like Andy Ogles.I am posting information below on each of the candidates, including their campaign web pages and Facebook pages. At the individual candidates' web pages, you can see who endorses the candidates, their ads and videos and policy positions.
To watch a forum featuring the Republican primary candidates for the TN-07 elections see, Political Forums TN House of Rep. District 7 Republican Primary.
For a report by Kin Jarrett, reporter for Center Square, on a forum in which each of the candidates outdid themselves to posture as the most Trumpian see, TN-07 Congressional candidates pledge loyalty to Trump
According to a poll paid for by Americans For Prosperity Foundation Tennessee, the four candidates listed below are the major candidates. I am assuming the poll is legitimate. Based on the AFP poll, endorsements, spending, and news coverage, I think these are the leading candidates.
Major Republican Candidates
**** Rep. Jody Barrett: Dickson attorney Barrett has served in the Tennessee General Assembly since his 2020 election. Barrett received a perfect score from the Trumpian Tennessee Legislative Report Card, which is operated in partnership with Tennessee Stands.
Rep. Gino Bulso: A Brentwood trial lawyer specializing in personal injury suits, Bulso waselected to the legislature in 2022. He has said focusing on the national debt will be a priority.
*** Matt Van Epps: Van Epps is the former Tennessee commissioner of General Services under Gov. Bill Lee. Prior to that, he worked as vice president of Main Street Health, which coordinates care for Medicare patients in rural clinics. A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Van Epps is a lieutenant colonel in the Tennessee National Guard. Van Epps.
Below are the other Republican candidates:
Stewart Parks: Parks, a Nashville real estate agent, served time in federal prison for his participation in the Jan. 6, insurrection, in which he was charged with disorderly conduct, intent to impede and disrupt the operations of Congress and property theft. President Donald Trump pardoned Parks in January 2025 as part of his general pardon of those who took part in the J6 insurrection.
Website: https://parksfortn.com/
*** Mason Foley: Foley, of Franklin, served as a staff member for U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, from 2020-2022 before joining Main Street Health, which works with Medicaid patients in rural areas.
 |
| Jody Barrett |
Barrett has come under a vicious, sleazzy attack by a group affiliated with the Club for Growth due to his opposition to Gov. Lee's school voucher program. While I personally support school choice, I think the attacks against Barrett are disgusting and I may vote for him simply because I am repulsed by the attack ads. For more on this and to see the ad, go to I am Almost Persuaded to Vote for Jody Barrett Due to this Disgusting Attack Ad.
Facebook page: Jody Barrett for Tennessee
 |
| Gino Bulso |
Website: https://votegino.com/
Facebook: Gino Bulso for Congress
*** Rep. Lee Reeves: Reeves, of Franklin, won the Republican primary for House District 65 by less than 100 votes in August 2024, before going on to win the general election. Reeves’ wife, Claire, serves on the Williamson County School Board.
 |
| Lee Reeves |
Reeves has received the endorsement of Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin),former Davidson County Republican Party Chairman Lonnie Spivak, and Country music artist John Rich. To read more about why these people support Reeves see, TN-7 Candidate Lee Reeves Picks Up Notable Endorsements from Tennessee Republican Leaders.
Website: https://leereeves.com/
Facebook: Lee Reeves for Congress
 |
| Matt Van Epps |
Van Epps has garnered some major endorsements, including those of Congressman Mark Green and Congressman Jim Jordan. Also, he has been endorsed by a bunch of mayors and vice mayors and city councilmen of the various cities in the Seventh Congressional District.
Website: https://www.mattfortn.com/
Facebook: Matt Van Epps
Stewart Parks: Parks, a Nashville real estate agent, served time in federal prison for his participation in the Jan. 6, insurrection, in which he was charged with disorderly conduct, intent to impede and disrupt the operations of Congress and property theft. President Donald Trump pardoned Parks in January 2025 as part of his general pardon of those who took part in the J6 insurrection.
Website: https://parksfortn.com/
*** Stewart Cooper: Cooper, of Franklin, works in sales for Flagler Technologies, a Florida-based provider of information technology services. His website says nothing Trumpian and that is a plus.
*** Adolph Agbéko Dagan: No information is available for Dagan. I may vote for Daagan, simply because I know nothing about him and assume he is not a serious candidate, so a vote for Dagan, is sort like voting for "none of the above."
*** Mason Foley: Foley, of Franklin, served as a staff member for U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, from 2020-2022 before joining Main Street Health, which works with Medicaid patients in rural areas.
Among the candidates who are not being considered major candidates, it looks like Foley should be, and maybe the polls are wrong. He strikes me as top-tier material and he does have ads running on TV. I do not know how old he is, but he calls himself Gen Z and appears young. While his website pledges his support for the Trump agenda, he does not stoke the culture wars and his tone is less vitriolic than some of the other candidates. I am considering voting for him.
Website: Foley for Congress
*** Jason D. Knight: Knight formerly served on the Clarksville City Council and is currently a member of the Montgomery County Commission. He works in information systems management and served nine years on active duty with the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division, which is based in Clarksville.
I like the tone of his campaign as expressed on his website and his common-sense, traditional conservative policy positions. He checks the Trump loyalty box without overdoing it. I could vote for him.
Joe Leurs: Leurs is a retired non-commissioned officer with the U.S. Marines and retired from the Metro Nashville Police Department. Website: https://www.joeleurs-tn.com/
Tres Wittum: Wittum is a former Tennessee Senate staff member who ran for Congress in Tennessee’s 5th District in 2022. He also ran for U.S. Senate against incumbent Sen. Marsha Blackburn in 2024. Website: https://treswittum.com/
If you are considering voting in the Democrat primary, for information on Democratic candidates, see
Meet the TN-07 Democratic Candidates
Top Stories
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment