Four candidates seeking the Republican nomination in the special primary for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District are set to participate in tomorrow night’s debate hosted in Nashville by Americans for Prosperity (AFP) Foundation.
The debate, which will be held at Ray Stevens CabaRay Showroom on Friday from 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m, will feature candidates Matt Van Epps, a former Lee administration official, and State Reps. Jody Barrett (R-Dickson), Lee Reeves (R-Franklin), and Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood).
Barrett, Reeves, and Bulso all qualified for the debate based on the results of a poll released last week by AFP.
Van Epps qualified for the debate by providing AFP with receipts that his campaign has raised at least $250,000.
AFP – Tennessee Deputy Director Michael Lotfi and local SuperTalk 99.7 WTN host Matt Murphy will moderate Friday’s debate.
On Wednesday’s edition of The Matt Murphy Show, Lotfi said Friday’s debate will feature “really difficult questions” designed to highlight clear differences between the candidates’ specific policy positions.
“If the candidates have a desire to answer with honesty and integrity, the questions are really difficult questions. We expect to see some real differentiation come up if the candidates respect the audience enough to give them honest answers,” Lotfi said.
Murphy emphasized that the questions posed will be formed in ways to “give people the opportunity to see space between the candidates.”
Lotfi also mentioned that Friday’s event may include a straw poll, giving attendees the opportunity to vote for their preferred candidate based on the responses given during the debate.
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.
The Republican primary in the special election to fill the seat for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District will take place on Tuesday, October 7.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Lee Reeves” by Lee Reeves; “Matt Van Epps” by Matt Van Epps; “Gino Bulso” is by Gino Bulso; and “Jody Barrett” is by Jody Barrett. Background photo “US Capitol” is by Gage Skidmore CC2.0.
Hey Chuck Fleischmann, do you see this? These guys aren’t scared of their own shadows. You should take notes and maybe ask them how they develop their inner confidence.