Republican Van Epps Wins Tennessee 7th District Election

Republican Matt Van Epps secured victory in a special election for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District on Tuesday, defeating Democrat Aftyn Behn by 9 percentage points in a race that narrowed significantly from the previous year's presidential results. The district, located in the central part of the state and encompassing parts of Nashville, had gone for President Donald Trump by 22 points over Kamala Harris in 2024, highlighting a 13-point shift toward Democrats in the off-year contest.

Van Epps, a military veteran and former state general services commissioner, replaces Republican Mark Green, who resigned earlier this year to take a position in the private sector. With more than 95 percent of precincts reporting, Van Epps received 54 percent of the vote to Behn's 45 percent. The outcome came after a heated campaign that drew heavy outside spending, with federal filings showing over $6.5 million from groups including the MAGA Inc. super PAC, which contributed about $1.6 million. Turnout reached levels comparable to the 2022 midterms, unusual for a standalone special election and potentially driven by national attention on the race.

Van Epps was sworn into office on Thursday...