Crowded Tennessee Special Election Highlights GOP Tensions, Dem Push/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A crowded special election in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District has drawn a dozen Republican contenders and four Democrats vying to replace former Rep. Mark Green. The race is shaping up as a test of Donald Trump’s political sway and a measure of voter reaction to his economic agenda. With Matt Van Epps gaining Trump’s last-minute endorsement, the GOP primary has become one of the most closely watched contests of the off-year election cycle.
“Tennessee Special Election Quick Looks”
- Election Date: GOP and Democratic primaries on Oct. 8, 2025; general election on Dec. 2
- Vacated Seat: Former Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.)
- District: 7th Congressional District — redrawn in 2022 to favor Republicans
- Trump’s Role: Endorsed GOP candidate Matt Van Epps
- Key Democratic Hopefuls: Vincent Dixie, Aftyn Behn, Bo Mitchell, Darden Copeland
- Key Issues: Trump’s tax cuts, tariffs, health care, and school choice policies
Crowded Tennessee Special Election Highlights GOP Tensions, Democratic Push
Deep Look
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The race to fill a vacant Tennessee congressional seat has become one of the most crowded and politically charged contests of the 2025 election season — and an early test of President Donald Trump’s continued influence within the Republican Party.
The special election for the 7th Congressional District, vacated by Republican Rep. Mark Green earlier this year, has drawn 11 Republican and four Democratic contenders, each positioning themselves amid the volatile political landscape of Trump’s second term.
Trump waded into the race Friday, endorsing Matt Van Epps, a former state official and Tennessee National Guard lieutenant colonel. His backing prompted rival Lee Reeves to suspend his campaign just days before the GOP primary.
The president’s endorsement — often decisive in Republican primaries — adds fresh energy to a contest already shaped by internal party rivalries and deep-pocketed outside groups.
GOP Primary: A Battle for Trump’s Mantle
The district, redrawn in 2022 to favor Republicans, includes parts of Nashville, Clarksville, and Franklin, stretching through 14 counties that border Kentucky and Alabama. Once a swing area, it is now considered safely red — though Trump’s endorsement could reveal how suburban Republicans are responding to his hardline policies.
Front-runners include:
- Matt Van Epps, the newly Trump-endorsed candidate and former commissioner for general services under Gov. Bill Lee. Van Epps has emphasized military leadership and fiscal conservatism, raising $358,700 through mid-September.
- Jody Barrett, an attorney and state representative who calls himself “the most conservative state rep in Tennessee history.” He has clashed with pro-school-choice Republicans despite backing Trump’s education tax credit plan. Barrett has raised $241,900.
- Gino Bulso, a socially conservative attorney from Brentwood known for legislation targeting LGBTQ+ symbols in schools, has invested over $494,000 of his own money in the race.
Other notable Republicans include Mason Foley, a former Senate staffer for Mitch McConnell, and Stewart Parks, who was pardoned by Trump for entering the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Outside spending has topped $2.5 million, with nearly $1 million in ads targeting Barrett.
“Republicans are fighting not only Democrats, but each other,” said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics. “This race is really about who can carry the Trump brand without alienating moderates.”
Democrats Look to Break Through
Democrats, long the underdogs in the GOP-drawn district, see the race as a chance to test economic messaging against Trump’s massive spending and tax cut package passed earlier this year.
The Democratic primary features four Nashville-area contenders:
- Vincent Dixie, a bail bondsman and former state House caucus leader who frames his campaign around working-class struggles, famously appearing in a garbage truck ad declaring, “Washington has been piling up garbage for working families.”
- Aftyn Behn, a social worker and reproductive rights advocate, known for her legal fight against Tennessee’s restrictive abortion laws.
- Bo Mitchell, a state representative focused on rural health care access, touting his Dickson County roots.
- Darden Copeland, a Nashville businessman and political consultant, running as an outsider emphasizing private-sector experience.
Copeland leads in fundraising with $334,900 raised and a $100,000 personal loan. Mitchell follows with $202,800, while Behn and Dixie have raised $149,000 and $138,200, respectively.
A Broader Test of Trump’s Economic Vision
The special election is also viewed as a barometer of public sentiment toward Trump’s second-term economic agenda, which includes aggressive tariffs, deep spending cuts, and corporate tax reductions.
Democrats are betting that voter fatigue with Trump-era policies — including healthcare rollbacks and education disputes — could narrow the GOP’s advantage in the district.
However, Republicans maintain that the district’s conservative base and Trump’s continued popularity make the seat nearly impossible for Democrats to flip.
“The 7th District has become a proving ground for the new GOP,” said Nashville political analyst Maya Rains. “It’s Trump’s party — but even his supporters are now competing over what that really means.”
What’s Next
Early voting ends Monday, with Election Day set for Tuesday, Oct. 8. The winners of both primaries will face off in the Dec. 2 general election, which will determine who fills the seat for the remainder of Green’s term.
No matter who wins, Tennessee’s 7th District — once a quiet conservative stronghold — is now at the center of a political storm with national implications.
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