Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District Special Election Results

The special election for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District has concluded with a Republican victory.

Republican candidate Matt Van Epps, backed by Trump supporters, has taken a lead of over 11,000 votes against Democratic state Rep. Aftin Behn. Voter turnout reached an impressive 81%. Major news outlets, including CNN and NBC News, have already declared Van Epps the winner in their reports.

Interestingly, while Van Epps has not formally admitted victory on social media, he did express thanks to Tennessee shortly after the announcement. Behn, on the other hand, has remained silent on her social platforms.

Behn has faced scrutiny for past remarks that appear to reveal a strong dislike for Nashville, which is the city she aimed to represent. She has been quoted saying, “I hate cities, I hate single people, I hate pedal taverns, I hate country music, I hate everything that makes Nashville clearly the ‘it’ city for the rest of the country.” This sentiment raises questions about her suitability for the role.

Adding to the controversy, Behn had previously gained attention for an incident in 2019 where she attempted to occupy the office of Republican Governor Bill Lee, leading to her being forcibly removed by security.

In contrast, President Trump has described Van Epps as a “phenomenal candidate” and a “MAGA warrior,” further solidifying his support from the Republican base.

This special election was necessitated by the resignation of former Republican Rep. Mark Green, who left his position in June to pursue opportunities in the private sector. By retaining this seat, Republicans maintain a slim majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, despite some resignations, including that of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in January.