Republican Matt Van Epps Secures Victory in Closely Watched Tennessee Special Election

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Republican Matt Van Epps has defeated Democratic challenger Aftyn Behn in a hotly contested special election for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, according to the Associated Press. The race, which garnered significant national attention, maintains the GOP’s narrow majority in the House of Representatives.

The election was held to fill the seat vacated by former Republican Representative Mark Green, who resigned in June to pursue opportunities in the private sector. The district, which spans central and western Tennessee from Kentucky to Alabama and includes portions of Nashville, has been a reliable Republican stronghold in recent years.

“We’re getting incredible reports back all across the district with great turnout for us, and that’s how we’re going to carry this forward and win,” Van Epps told Fox News Digital on Election Day while greeting supporters outside a polling station.

The race took on outsized importance as Republicans cling to a razor-thin majority in the House. Despite former President Donald Trump carrying the district by 22 points in the 2024 presidential election and Green winning his previous re-elections by similar margins, Democrats had been energized following recent electoral successes elsewhere in the country.

Van Epps, a military combat veteran and former commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services, downplayed expectations about winning by a specific margin, stating simply that “a win is a win.” He added, “We’re going to press as hard as we can to win by the biggest margin we can, and then we’re going to hold the majority in ’26.”

Both national parties invested heavily in the race, with millions of dollars flowing into advertising from outside groups. The Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee each deployed substantial resources and staff to the district, highlighting the perceived significance of the contest.

House Speaker Mike Johnson spent the entire day before the election campaigning alongside Van Epps, emphasizing the importance of turnout even in traditionally Republican areas. “Special elections are strange because a lot of people take for granted in a deep red district like this that the Republican is just going to win automatically. Nothing’s automatic,” Johnson told Fox News Digital.

Former President Trump also participated in the campaign’s final push, speaking to supporters via phone during a rally and later joining Van Epps for a tele-rally. “The whole world is watching Tennessee right now. And they’re watching your district. The whole world. It’s a big vote. It’s going to show something. It’s got to show that the Republican Party is stronger than it’s ever been,” Trump said.

The Republican campaign repeatedly characterized Behn, a state representative and former healthcare community organizer, as too progressive for the district. Critics dubbed her the “AOC of Tennessee,” drawing comparisons to progressive Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Behn faced significant criticism over past comments from a 2020 podcast where she stated, “I hate the city, I hate the bachelorettes, I hate the pedal taverns, I hate country music, I hate all of the things that make Nashville apparently an ‘it’ city to the rest of the country.” These remarks proved particularly problematic in a district that includes parts of Nashville, a major center of the country music industry.

Throughout the campaign, Behn focused her message on economic issues affecting district residents. “This race has always been about something bigger. It’s about families across middle Tennessee that are getting crushed by rising prices,” she said in response to the controversy.

Despite the loss, Behn maintained that her campaign had achieved important goals. “For me, we’ve already won over the hearts and minds of so many Tennesseans and across the country,” she told Fox News Digital. “What starts here changes this country.”

Political analysts view the outcome as a significant data point ahead of the 2026 midterm elections when Republicans will be defending their House majority. The ability of Republicans to hold this seat in what became an unexpectedly competitive race could provide insights into voter sentiment and campaign strategies heading into the next election cycle.

The victory gives Republicans slightly more breathing room in the House, where every vote has been crucial due to their narrow majority.