Republican Matt Van Epps wins TN‑7 special, keeping GOP hold on seat
Republican Matt Van Epps defeated Democrat Aftyn Behn in the Dec. 2 special election for Tennessee’s 7th District, holding the seat vacated by Rep. Mark Green and preserving a key GOP seat in an evenly divided House. The high‑profile, heavily funded contest featured more than $6.5 million in outside spending — including over $1.5 million from MAGA Inc. and seven‑figure buys by Club for Growth and House Majority PAC — and national surrogates from Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson to Kamala Harris, Al Gore and AOC, with campaigns warning turnout could be depressed by the post‑Thanksgiving timing.
📌 Key Facts
- Republican Matt Van Epps won the Dec. 2, 2025 special election for Tennessee’s 7th District; the Associated Press called the race for Van Epps and the GOP retained the seat, a must‑hold for its narrow House majority (about 219–213).
- The district is heavily Republican (about R+22); retiring Rep. Mark Green — who won the seat by ~21 points in 2024 — resigned in June for a private‑sector job, creating the vacancy.
- Outside groups poured more than $6.5 million into the race (FEC data), with roughly two‑thirds of super PAC spending in the final two weeks; MAGA Inc. was a top spender (about $1.6 million) — its first campaign outlay since last year’s presidential race — while Club for Growth and other conservative groups placed seven‑figure buys and House Majority PAC invested about $1 million for Democrat Aftyn Behn.
- High‑profile surrogates and national efforts influenced the campaign: former President Trump tele‑rallied and phoned in multiple times (including on Election Eve), Speaker Mike Johnson and RNC chair Joe Gruters campaigned in‑district, and Democrats dispatched surrogates including Vice President Kamala Harris, Al Gore, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez and DNC Chair Ken Martin.
- Turnout and timing were major campaign concerns: the election fell immediately after Thanksgiving with early/absentee voting overlapping the holiday; campaigns warned of depressed turnout, a Baker Group memo showed early/absentee ballots favored Republicans 46%–40%, and Van Epps touted strong early‑vote turnout for his campaign.
- Campaign themes and attacks: Van Epps emphasized affordability and his military record in closing ads; Behn targeted grocery and health‑care costs and tariffs; Democrats also attacked Van Epps over his stance on releasing Epstein‑related documents.
- Van Epps emerged from a crowded October Republican primary after a late Trump endorsement (he pledged to have Trump’s back), and an Emerson College poll shortly before the special showed him leading Behn by about 2 points.
📊 Relevant Data
According to 2020 Census data, Tennessee's 7th Congressional District's population is 69.4% White, 15.8% Black, 7.4% Hispanic, 2.0% Asian, 4.5% two or more races, and 0.8% other races.
Tennessee's 7th congressional district — Wikipedia
In 2022, the unemployment rate for native-born workers in Tennessee was 6.4% for Blacks, 4.8% for Hispanics, 3.6% for Asians, and 2.9% for Whites, where Black residents make up approximately 15.7% of the state's population, White residents 71%, Hispanic residents about 7.6%, and Asian residents about 2%.
In Tennessee, the number of homicides per 100,000 population was 9.7 times higher among Black (42.9) than White (4.4) populations in 2021-2022, where Black residents make up approximately 15.7% of the state's population and White residents 71%.
State Summaries Tennessee | 2024 Annual Report | AHR — America's Health Rankings
📊 Analysis & Commentary (1)
Aftyn Behn’s Surprising House Cliffhanger in Nashville
"A WSJ opinion piece argues that Aftyn Behn’s progressive profile makes her an ideal Republican target in Tennessee’s red 7th District, explaining why the special election turned into a surprising, competitive cliffhanger and underscoring the importance of candidate fit in local races."
📰 Sources (10)
Republican Matt Van Epps wins House special election in Tennessee
New information:
- MAGA Inc.’s spend in the race was its first campaign expenditure since last year’s presidential race.
- House Majority PAC invested $1 million backing Democrat Aftyn Behn.
- GOP chair Joe Gruters joined Speaker Mike Johnson to rally in Tennessee on Monday; Trump conducted a phone address plus a second tele‑rally for Van Epps.
- Van Epps won a crowded October primary with a late Trump endorsement and told Trump, “I will have your back 100%.”
Trump-backed Republican keeps crucial congressional seat in GOP hands with special election victory
New information:
- Associated Press called the race for Republican Matt Van Epps over Democrat Aftyn Behn.
- Republicans retain Tennessee’s 7th District, a must-win for the GOP’s narrow House majority.
- Former Rep. Mark Green resigned in June to take a private-sector job, creating the vacancy.
- House Speaker Mike Johnson campaigned with Van Epps on Election Eve; both national parties and outside groups poured resources into the race.
Trump-backed Republican touts 'great turnout for us' in must-win special election for GOP
New information:
- Republican nominee Matt Van Epps claims 'great turnout for us' and says 'we were up in early voting.'
- House Speaker Mike Johnson spent the entire Election Eve with Van Epps across the district; he was joined by RNC chair Joe Gruters.
- Democratic nominee Aftyn Behn tells supporters the race has 'already won over hearts and minds' and that the electorate is shifting to accept a progressive track record.
Trump tries to dial up Republican votes for Tennessee special election
New information:
- Trump phoned into a Franklin, TN rally and held a separate virtual rally for GOP nominee Matt Van Epps, with two call‑ins on Monday ahead of the vote.
- House Speaker Mike Johnson personally headlined rallies in the district, including an event at a Franklin farm garage with vintage cars.
- Democratic surrogates Al Gore and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez participated in a virtual rally for Aftyn Behn; AP includes new quotes from both.
- Additional GOP support noted: national party chair Joe Gruters, Gov. Bill Lee, and Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty appeared for Van Epps.
- Republicans cited turnout concerns tied to early voting over Thanksgiving week and the post‑holiday election timing.
Tennessee voters go to the polls in House special election testing Trump’s power
New information:
- Election Day for Tennessee’s 7th District special is Dec. 2, 2025, with voting underway.
- MAGA Inc. has spent more than $1 million backing Republican Matt Van Epps, marking its first spend since last year’s presidential race.
- House Majority PAC has put $1 million behind Democrat Aftyn Behn.
- Trump addressed supporters by phone and held a second general‑election tele‑rally for Van Epps on the eve of the vote.
- Turnout concerns noted due to early voting overlapping Thanksgiving week and a Tuesday election immediately after the holiday.
Democrats and Republicans are pouring money into a special election in Tennessee. Here's why
New information:
- FEC data: Outside groups have spent more than $6.5 million in TN‑7, including over $1.6 million from MAGA Inc.
- Roughly two‑thirds of super PAC spending occurred in the last two weeks of the race.
- List of high‑profile surrogates: Kamala Harris and DNC Chair Ken Martin canvassed for Behn; Al Gore and Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez led a Zoom rally; Speaker Mike Johnson held a Monday GOTV rally for Van Epps with Trump calling in.
- Campaign messaging focus: both candidates emphasize affordability; ad specifics from Van Epps and Behn on prices, jobs, health care, and tariffs.
- Trump quote from tele‑rally dismissing Democrats’ affordability focus as a “con job.”
Scoop: Trump and Johnson to hold tele-rally for GOP in tight Tennessee House race
New information:
- President Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson will hold a joint Monday evening tele‑rally for GOP nominee Matt Van Epps; Johnson will do multiple in‑district events earlier that day.
- An Emerson College poll shows Van Epps leading Democrat Aftyn Behn by 2 points in TN‑07.
- MAGA Inc. has spent more than $1.5 million; Conservatives for American Excellence and Club for Growth Action have made six‑figure buys; House Majority PAC and Your Community PAC have spent about $1 million combined.
- The RNC has launched a get‑out‑the‑vote program for the race.
- Early and absentee voting favors Republicans 46% to 40%, according to a memo from Baker Group Strategies.
- Democrats are attacking Van Epps over his stance on releasing Epstein‑related documents.
- The post‑Thanksgiving timing could depress turnout, a dynamic campaigns are factoring into strategy.
Democrats, Republicans go all in on final 2025 congressional ballot box showdown
New information:
- Both parties are flooding the race with late money and ads; MAGA Inc. and Club for Growth each placed seven‑figure ad buys.
- Republican nominee Matt Van Epps is centering a cost‑of‑living message and military record in closing ads; Democrat Aftyn Behn’s final ad targets grocery, health‑care costs and tariffs.
- Vanderbilt political scientist John Greer says Republicans fear a possible upset in a normally safe R+22 seat.
- Article underscores the GOP’s current 219–213 House margin and describes the district’s geography (central/western TN, parts of Nashville).
Trump, Harris and big money transform Tennessee special election into marquee contest
New information:
- MAGA Inc. has reported more than $1 million in spending supporting GOP nominee Matt Van Epps — its first campaign involvement since last year’s presidential race.
- Former Vice President Kamala Harris appeared in Nashville for a canvassing kickoff while on her book tour; DCCC said it hadn’t invited her and she did not appear with Democrat Aftyn Behn.
- Rep. Tim Burchett warned of low-turnout risks over Thanksgiving timing and urged additional GOP mobilization; Republicans have asked President Trump to campaign in-state after his virtual rally.
- DNC deputy executive director Libby Schneider said a strong Behn showing would aid Democrats’ 2026 House efforts, citing recent special election overperformance.
- Race context updated: TN-7 was won by retiring Rep. Mark Green by 21 points in 2024; both Trump and Green posted similar margins.