{"id":2517436,"date":"2025-12-04T10:03:01","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T15:03:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/matt-van-epps-sworn-in-as-newest-house-republican\/"},"modified":"2025-12-04T10:04:03","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T15:04:03","slug":"matt-van-epps-sworn-in-as-newest-house-republican","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/matt-van-epps-sworn-in-as-newest-house-republican\/","title":{"rendered":"Matt Van Epps sworn in as newest House Republican"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmatt-van-epps-sworn-in-as-newest-house-republican%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2517436&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Matt Van Epps, a Republican from Tennessee, was sworn in as the newest member of the House of Representatives shortly after winning a special election in TennesseeS 7th Congressional District. His victory adds to the House GOP&#8217;s majority, now standing at 220 Republicans to 213 Democrats, giving Speaker Mike Johnson a slim three-seat led. Van Epps&#8217;s win was seen as a relief for Republicans,though his narrow margin of victory was noted by Democrats as a sign of their <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >energized base heading<\/a> into the 2026 elections. Van Epps&#8217;s addition provides temporary support for the GOP, especially wiht the anticipated early 2026 retirement of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. The prompt swearing-in contrasts with delays experienced by other members, such as Rep. Adelita Grijalva, whose swearing-in was postponed due to a government shutdown. Democrats criticized johnson for the delay, alleging political motives, which Johnson denied. Van Epps&#8217;s swearing-in strengthens the Republican majority ahead of upcoming political challenges.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Special election winner Matt Van Epps sworn in as newest House Republican<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2423251\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Rep. Matt Van Epps (R-TN) was sworn in as the newest member of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/news\/house\/\">House<\/a> Republican conference on Thursday morning, less than <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3904810\/tennessee-special-election-aftyn-behn-matt-van-epps-results\/\">two days<\/a> after he won a special election in Tennessee.<\/p>\n<p>The House now stands at 220 Republicans to 213 Democrats, which translates to a three-seat majority for Speaker <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mike-johnson\/\">Mike Johnson<\/a> (R-LA), who presided over the swearing-in.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3906726\/admiral-bradley-to-tell-congress-boat-strike-survivors-were-legitimate-targets\/\">Adm. Mitch Bradley to tell Congress boat strike survivors were &lsquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/admiral-bradley-to-tell-congress-boat-strike-survivors-were-legitimate-targets\/\" title=\"Admiral Bradley to tell ... were \u2018legitimate targets\u2019\">legitimate targets&#038;rsquo<\/a>;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3906062\/hakeem-jeffries-rare-praise-trump-pardoning-henry-cuellar\/\">Hakeem Jeffries gives rare praise of Trump pardoning Cuellar: &#8216;The right outcome&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3905924\/oversight-investigation-walz-somali-fraud\/\">House Oversight Committee launches investigation into Walz over alleged Somali fraud<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Van Epps&rsquo;s victory in Tuesday&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/special-elections\/\">special election<\/a> came as a sigh of relief for Republicans after he defeated Democrat Aftyn Behn to represent <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tennessee\/\">Tennessee&rsquo;s<\/a> 7th Congressional District.&nbsp;But the single-digit margin by which he won also gave fodder to Democrats, who cited it as evidence that their base is motivated for the 2026 elections. President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> won the district by more than 20 points in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>Van Epps, as the newest member of the House GOP, will grant Johnson some temporary breathing room heading into the new year, though his vote will be negated by the early January 2026 retirement of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA).<\/p>\n<p>The swearing-in ceremony for Van Epps comes after Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ) had to wait <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3883529\/johnson-swear-in-adelita-grijalva\/\">approximately seven weeks<\/a> after her <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/latino-group-torches-biden-after-gop-victory-in-south-texas-democrats-make-a-mockery-of-our-culture\/\" title=\"Latino Group Torches Biden After GOP Victory In South Texas: Democrats Make \u2018A Mockery Of Our Culture\u2019\">special election win<\/a> in Arizona to be sworn into office.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3906557\/tennessee-election-warning-sign-republicans-2026\/\"><strong>TENNESSEE ELECTION RESULT LATEST WARNING SIGN GOP FACING TOUGH 2026<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Johnson kept the House out of session during the record-breaking government shutdown and said he would not swear in Grijalva until the government reopened.<\/p>\n<p>Democrats, for their part, claimed that it was because Johnson wanted to prevent her from becoming the necessary <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3883303\/mike-johnson-swears-in-adelita-grijalva-last-signature-epstein-petition\/\">218th signature<\/a> on a petition that forced a vote to release the Epstein files, something Johnson denied.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Matt Van Epps sworn in as newest House Republican member<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2648,"featured_media":2517437,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AP25321688056451.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[34504,68112,5894,13087],"class_list":["post-2517436","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-house-republican","tag-matt-van-epps","tag-politics","tag-swearing-in"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AP25321688056451.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2517436","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2648"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2517436"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2517436\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2517440,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2517436\/revisions\/2517440"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2517437"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2517436"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2517436"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2517436"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}