Tennessee Special Election: Matt Van Epps Calls for Unity

As the special election approaches, Republican candidate Matt Van Epps is appealing to the people of Tennessee to “unite” and participate in the voting process. He laid out two distinct paths for voters in the 7th Congressional District during an appearance on “Fox & Friends.”

“The contrast between us is clear,” he stated, drawing a line between himself and Democratic opponent Aftin Behn.

“I’m a Christian, a husband, a father—I’m an America First conservative and a military veteran. I served as a helicopter pilot in both Iraq and Afghanistan, worked in state government, ran a small business, and I’m still in the National Guard,” he elaborated.

Aftin Behn, a progressive Democrat sometimes likened to “Tennessee’s AOC,” has faced criticism for past remarks that disparaged Nashville and for a now-deleted post advocating for the disbanding of the city’s police department.

The candidates are vying to fill the seat left vacant by former Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.), who departed Congress earlier this year for a role in the private sector. The 7th District includes Nashville, a stronghold for the Democratic Party and the state’s largest city.

During his appearance on Tuesday, Van Epps pushed back against Behn’s assertion that he hadn’t addressed affordability—a topic that’s been pivotal in recent political discussions, including the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election.

“What she claims is simply untrue,” he remarked, emphasizing that he has frequently discussed issues surrounding housing, health care, and energy costs. He mentioned support for expanding nuclear power and making health care more transparent, as well as increasing access to affordable housing near job centers.

Van Epps contrasted his proposals with what he described as Behn’s calls for “new tax increases” pushed by progressive groups. Behn countered that Republican criticisms of his previous statements are diversionary tactics, aimed at detracting from the pressing concerns of voters—specifically, the rising cost of living in Tennessee.

When approached for comment regarding the backlash over Behn’s past comments about Nashville, her campaign manager provided a statement asserting that Republicans are panicking. The statement claimed they are using these criticisms to deflect attention from rising costs and health care issues that families in Tennessee face. Behn aims to lower grocery costs by eliminating the state’s grocery tax.