Matt Van Epps Wins Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District Special Election
Republican Matt Van Epps has triumphed over Democratic contender Aftin Behn in a special election held on Tuesday night for the seat in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District.
Dave Wasserman, a senior editor and election analyst at Cook Political Report, confirmed the outcome of the race.
Van Epps and Behn competed for the U.S. House seat left vacant by former Representative Mark Green, who stepped down to pursue a career in the private sector.
Commenting on his win, Van Epps underscored the significance of this election for the Republican influence in the House of Representatives, saying, “This was a crucial election for the balance of power.” He added, “As we look ahead, who knows, these upcoming months might see more resignations and every seat could be pivotal. In instances like California, it could indeed hinge on a single vote.”
During a podcast, Katherine Hamilton from Breitbart News noted that Behn had referred to the term “birther” in the past, later specifying her meaning to encompass “men and women capable of giving birth.”
In her discussions about progressive policies, Behn remarked, “We have a chance to explore what progressive measures we can advocate for young women, including childbearers. Perhaps we can rally together for better conditions, as the book ‘Birth Strike’ discusses.” She expressed these thoughts during a podcast episode titled “The Plurality of ‘Pro-Life’.”
The Daily Wire reported that following the tragic mass shooting at Covenant School in Nashville in March 2023, Behn and her family shared their support for the transgender community.
At a Candidate Forum in July 2023, Behn disclosed that her partner has a transgender son. She shared that the aftermath of the shooting, which involved a transgender individual, led her to engage in conversations with transgender activists in the state who were feeling endangered.
In a post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump encouraged Van Epps, stating, “To all the America First Patriots in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, please get out and vote.”
