Republican Matt Van Epps has just clinched a hard-fought victory in the special election for the state’s 7th District House seat.
On Tuesday, Van Epps defeated Democrat Aftyn Behn -- compared by some to AOC -- by a margin of 8.9 percentage points, securing a win that bolsters GOP control in a traditionally conservative stronghold despite a tighter-than-expected race, as the New York Post reports.
This seat, previously held by former Rep. Mark Green, who stepped down earlier this year for a private-sector role, became a battleground that drew national attention.
Van Epps, a former Army helicopter pilot, came into the race with heavyweight backing, including an endorsement from President Trump and campaign appearances by House Speaker Mike Johnson in middle Tennessee on Dec. 1.
President Donald Trump even hosted two tele-rallies to drum up support, while nearly $1.7 million from Make America Great Again Inc. poured in, with a hefty chunk spent on digital ads targeting online video streamers.
Make no mistake, this was a race the GOP wanted to lock down, especially after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s announcement last month that she would be leaving Congress in January 2026, making every seat count.
On the other side, Aftyn Behn, a 36-year-old state representative, stirred Democratic Party hopes for an upset in this deep-red district, with late polling from Emerson College showing her just 2 points behind at 48% to 46%.
Behn got a boost from national Democrat figures, including a canvassing event with former Vice President Kamala Harris, a virtual rally with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and former Vice President Al Gore earlier this week, plus $1 million from the House Majority PAC.
She dominated in Davidson County, home to Nashville, winning by more than a three-to-one margin, but Van Epps countered with strong support in the staunchly Republican counties across central Tennessee.
Behn’s campaign wasn’t without hiccups, as resurfaced 2020 podcast comments where she expressed disdain for country music didn’t sit well with many in a state that reveres its musical heritage.
Trump seized on this, dubbing her the “AOC of Tennessee” for those remarks and her past writings critical of the state, alongside social media posts from 2020 that questioned law enforcement policies. Say what you will, but dismissing Nashville’s soul in Tennessee is like criticizing apple pie at a Fourth of July picnic. It’s a bold move that’s bound to backfire.
“Congratulations to Matt Van Epps on his BIG Congressional WIN in the Great State of Tennessee. The Radical Left Democrats threw everything at him, including Millions of Dollars,” Trump posted on Truth Social, clearly relishing the outcome.
At his victory celebration, Van Epps didn’t shy away from aligning himself with the Trump agenda, stating, “Politicians who run from the president or abandon the common-sense policies that the American people gave us a resounding mandate on do so at their own peril.”
His words signal a clear intent to double down on conservative priorities in Congress, a message GOP leaders hoped would resonate after this win, especially as a counter to Democratic narratives that even red districts are up for grabs amid economic discontent.
With Van Epps soon to be sworn in, Republicans will hold a temporary 220 to 213 edge in the House over Democrats, with two vacancies in blue districts awaiting special elections in early 2026, reminding us all that every vote in Congress is a precious commodity.
