Republican Matt Van Epps is sworn in as the newest House member days after winning election

Republican Matt Van Epps was sworn in Thursday as the newest member of the U.S. House of Representatives, just two days after winning a closely contested special election in Tennessee that helps maintain his party’s narrow majority in the chamber.

In his inaugural floor speech, Van Epps introduced himself to his congressional colleagues, emphasizing his background and values. “I come to this distinguished body as a Christian, a husband and a father and an Army special operations helicopter pilot with nine combat tours who has seen firsthand what makes this nation exceptional,” he stated.

The freshman congressman pledged to support former President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda and assured his constituents that he intended to deliver results rather than simply make speeches. “America’s strength comes from our enduring belief that freedom is worth fighting for and from our commitment to protect and empower the hard-working families who make the American dream possible,” Van Epps said.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Republican from Louisiana, administered the oath of office as Van Epps was joined on the House floor by his wife, Meg Wrather, and their daughter, Amelia. Johnson later noted an unusual aspect of the ceremony, telling reporters, “Fun fact: He took the oath on a hot pink Bible that belongs to his daughter. With her name on it! I have not seen that before.”

Van Epps’ swift installation stands in marked contrast to the seven-week delay in seating Democratic Representative Adelita Grijalva of Arizona. Johnson had refused to swear in Grijalva during the recent government shutdown, a decision that angered Democrats and highlighted the partisan tensions that continue to divide Congress.

With Van Epps now officially seated, Republicans hold 220 seats compared to the Democrats’ 213, with two vacancies in formerly Democratic-held districts in New Jersey and Texas. This seven-seat margin provides Republicans with a slightly more comfortable majority, though still narrow by historical standards.

Van Epps brings significant credentials to his new role. A West Point graduate, he previously served as Tennessee’s state general services commissioner. His Nashville-based district received considerable attention from national Republican leadership in the lead-up to Tuesday’s election, with Speaker Johnson and the Republican National Committee stepping in to bolster turnout amid concerns about voter enthusiasm.

While Republicans expressed relief at Van Epps’ victory, the margin has raised concerns within the party about the upcoming 2024 midterm elections. He defeated Democratic state Representative Aftyn Behn by approximately 9 percentage points – a substantial win, but significantly narrower than previous Republican performance in the district.

The previous Republican to hold the seat had won by 21 percentage points earlier in 2024, and former President Trump had carried the district by 22 percentage points in the same election cycle. This 12-13 point underperformance in a historically reliable Republican district has prompted analysts to question whether this signals broader electoral challenges for the GOP heading into next year.

Political observers note that special elections often see lower turnout than general elections, which can sometimes skew results. However, the narrowing margins in what has been considered a safe Republican district may indicate shifting voter sentiment or motivational disparities between the parties’ bases.

Van Epps now joins a House Republican conference that has faced numerous challenges maintaining party unity on critical legislation over the past year, including government funding bills and defense authorizations. His addition to the GOP ranks comes at a crucial time as Congress approaches the end of the current session with several significant legislative priorities still pending.