Tennessee Special Election Tests Trump’s Endorsement Power/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District special election pits Trump-backed Republican Matt Van Epps against Democrat Aftyn Behn in a closely watched race. The outcome could signal whether Trump’s influence holds strong amid recent Democratic wins nationwide. Millions in campaign spending and high-profile endorsements have intensified this local contest.
Tennessee Special Election: Quick Looks
- Voters fill House seat left vacant by Rep. Mark Green’s resignation.
- Trump-backed Republican Matt Van Epps faces Democrat Aftyn Behn.
- MAGA Inc. and House Majority PAC each spent over $1 million.
- Trump, Kamala Harris, and Al Gore involved in get-out-the-vote efforts.
- Democrats aim to build momentum from recent nationwide victories.
- Republicans hope to prove red districts remain solidly conservative.
- Behn criticized GOP over tariffs, tax cuts, and Epstein secrecy.
- GOP ads target Behn’s past comments about Nashville and law enforcement.
- Early voting overlapped Thanksgiving; turnout remains an open question.
- Independent Jon Thorp targeted by Democrats to siphon conservative votes.
Tennessee Special Election Tests Trump’s Endorsement Power
Deep Look
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Voters in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District headed to the polls Tuesday to settle a closely watched special election — a race seen as a critical measure of President Donald Trump’s political clout and a potential bellwether for the 2026 midterms.
The vacancy was triggered by the resignation of Republican Rep. Mark Green this past summer, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown in a heavily redrawn, conservative-leaning district. Despite the area’s Republican tilt — Green won the district by 21 points in 2024 — both parties have poured in millions of dollars, and national figures have flocked to Tennessee in support of their respective candidates.
Van Epps Carries Trump Banner
Republican candidate Matt Van Epps, a former Army helicopter pilot and state general services commissioner, has become a key figure in Trump’s efforts to reassert control over the Republican agenda. Van Epps received a significant $1 million boost from MAGA Inc., the first major campaign investment from Trump’s super PAC since the last presidential election.
Trump himself held multiple tele-rallies for Van Epps, including a live call with supporters Monday night. House Speaker Mike Johnson and RNC Chair Joe Gruters also rallied in Tennessee, highlighting how seriously the GOP takes this race amid recent Democratic victories in states like New Jersey and Virginia.
Van Epps’ campaign has embraced Trump’s platform, including support for tariffs and tax cuts, and he adjusted his position on a recent House vote to release Jeffrey Epstein-related documents after Trump voiced his support.
Behn Presents a Challenge
On the other side of the ballot, Democrat Aftyn Behn, a progressive state representative and former social worker, has drawn substantial grassroots and national attention. The House Majority PAC committed over $1 million to her campaign, while former Vice President Kamala Harris made a public show of support during a Nashville book tour, launching a canvassing event on Behn’s behalf.
Former Vice President Al Gore and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez participated in a virtual rally backing Behn just before Election Day. Behn has cast herself as a fighter for working families and a critic of “rigged systems,” targeting GOP policies such as Trump’s economic agenda and their handling of Epstein-related investigations.
Still, Republicans have aggressively targeted Behn’s more provocative past remarks, including her self-description as “radical” and “bullying” to law enforcement. She’s also faced criticism for a resurfaced comment stating she “hates” Nashville, made in frustration about bachelorette party culture in the city. Behn has since clarified that her concerns reflect her desire to make Nashville livable for working people.
A District in Transition
The 7th District, which once encompassed a broader swath of Nashville, was redrawn in 2022 to dilute the city’s Democratic influence. Only around 20% of registered voters in the district now reside in Nashville, while the rest come from surrounding conservative counties.
Despite the odds, Democrats view any reduction in the GOP margin as a potential sign of shifting sentiment, especially in a climate where Trump’s approval remains low and concerns about inflation and governance persist.
Republicans, however, are confident they will hold the seat and are using this race to reaffirm their stronghold on red-state America — especially as Democrats attempt to suggest even conservative-leaning districts are competitive.
Independent Siphoning Strategy
In an unexpected twist, Democratic-aligned groups have funded outreach aimed at peeling off conservative votes. A PAC called Your Community PAC, which has spent over $16 million supporting Democrats since 2024, sent mailers urging right-leaning voters to back independent candidate Jon Thorp, hoping to weaken Van Epps’ base in a tight race.
Whether this tactic affects the outcome remains to be seen, but it signals the intensity with which both sides view this contest.
Turnout a Key Unknown
Complicating predictions is the unusual timing of the election. Early voting overlapped Thanksgiving week, and with the general election falling the Tuesday after the holiday, both parties expressed concern about depressed turnout.
Still, strong mobilization efforts — including phone banks, door knocking, and social media outreach — suggest that both national parties view the result as more than symbolic.
For Trump and his Republican allies, a win here would reinforce his control of the party and provide a much-needed morale boost. For Democrats, a strong showing or upset victory would add to their recent string of electoral successes and support their claim that 2026 may bring further surprises.
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