Americans for Prosperity (AFP) Foundation -Tennessee is set to host a debate next month for qualifying Republican candidates running in the special election for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District.
The debate will be held at Ray Stevens CabaRay Showroom in Nashville on Friday, September 5 from 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
Those planning on attending the debate must arrive by 6:30 p.m. and present a valid ID. A cash bar will be available beginning at 5:45 p.m.
Local talk show host Matt Murphy, who hosts The Matt Murphy Show on SuperTalk 99.7 WTN, and AFP – Tennessee Deputy Director Michael Lotfi will moderate the debate.
Candidates who have secured a spot on the Republican primary ballot in the special election may participate in next month’s debate only if they meet one of two criteria required by AFP – through either polling or fundraising.
Our poll for the TN CD7 GOP Primary Special Election has just finished running. I think a lot of ppl are going to be VERRY surprised by the results. I know I was! That said, the race is still wide open, so you won't want to miss this debate! @mattmurphyshow & I will be announcing… pic.twitter.com/uwFAEHs1nE
— Michael Lotfi (@MichaelLotfi) August 24, 2025
To qualify for the debate through polling, candidates must rank among the top three in a survey conducted by AFP of Republican primary voters in the 7th Congressional District. Those who place in the top three will automatically be eligible to participate in the debate.
The results of AFP’s poll will be announced Tuesday.
Candidates who do not place in the top three of AFP’s poll can still qualify for the debate through fundraising.
To do so, they must have raised or self-funded at least $250,000 by Friday, August 29 and, if Federal Election Commission (FEC) reports are not yet available to verify such funds, will be required to present proof of the amount in their campaign bank account to the debate organizers.
Last month, State Representative Lee Reeves (R-Franklin) provided The Tennessee Star with a receipt from his campaign’s Truist Bank account showing a balance of $300,000 he deposited from his personal funds to jumpstart his congressional bid.
Further, pardoned January 6 defendant Stewart Parks recently told The Star’s CEO and Editor-in-Chief Michael Patrick Leahy he has invested close to $200,000 of his personal funds to kickstart his campaign by converting equity from his real estate ventures into cash.
To register as an attendee for next month’s debate hosted by AFP, click here.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
