Trump Highlights Special Election in Tennessee

President Trump spoke on Monday about the significance of the upcoming Tennessee state House race, describing it as a “huge event” that reflects on him and the broader Republican Party.

“This is a big deal,” he remarked regarding the special election set for Tuesday to fill the vacancy in the 7th Congressional District, which was left open after former Rep. Mark Greene retired during the summer.

“They say this shows how we’re doing,” Trump noted during a conference call with supporters for Matt Van Epps.

Trump, who secured a significant victory over former Vice President Kamala Harris in the same district during the 2024 elections, expressed concern that Van Epps might face negative publicity if he doesn’t win by a substantial margin. He said, “If it’s about two points lower than that, you’re going to say, ‘Oh, that’s terrible. I think Trump is losing his magic.’ I want Matt to work harder than me.”

Polls indicate that Van Epps is in a tight race against Democrat Aftin Behn, with him leading by merely 2 percentage points, according to Emerson College Poll.

A loss for Van Epps could impact House Speaker Mike Johnson’s slim hold on the Republican majority, especially with upcoming special elections for two other vacant seats previously held by Democrats, potentially decreasing the majority to zero votes by spring.

“This is important, because right now, we’re like a three-vote lead for the radical left, so this would be a great win for us,” Trump emphasized, labeling it a potentially positive sign for the party.

During the campaign, Van Epps received support from Trump, who humorously suggested that if things didn’t turn out well, he could offer the former Army special operations pilot a job “flying a helicopter with me in it.” However, Trump also expressed confidence in Van Epps’ capabilities, saying, “I think it’s going to be fine. He’s a great guy.”

House Speaker Johnson, who also spoke with Trump, echoed the importance of the campaign. “It’s no secret that my majority in Congress is razor-thin… every seat matters more than ever, and that’s exactly why we need Matt here in Washington,” he shared.

Johnson characterized Van Epps’ opponent as a “far-left radical,” referring to Aftin Behn’s association with prominent progressive figures during her campaign efforts.

Behn held a virtual rally featuring Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and former Vice President Al Gore, highlighting her support from notable Democratic leaders.