In a nationally watched contest to fill the vacancy in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, Republican Matt Van Epps defeated Democrat Aftyn Behn to succeed retiring Rep. Mark Green. The race, long viewed as a barometer of national political dynamics, drew endorsements from President Donald Trump and a flood of outside spending from both sides.
The 7th District, which includes parts of Nashville and its suburbs, as well as rural counties and a portion of the Fort Campbell military base, has been a GOP stronghold. Green won the seat by about 21 points last year, and Van Epps, a combat veteran and Army National Guard colonel, ran on security, conservative priorities and a pledge to carry forward the Trump-era agenda.
With most votes counted on Election Night, Van Epps led Behn by roughly 9 percentage points, a margin that underscored the district’s GOP tilt even as Democratic voters proved more engaged than in recent cycles. Outside groups poured money into the race, with MAGA Inc. spending more than $1.6 million to back Van Epps and Behn drawing a sizable counterweight from the Democratic-aligned House Majority PAC.
Trump himself endorsed Van Epps, participating in a tele-rally and publicly urging Republican turnout. Behn benefited from national Democrats visiting her campaign and mobilizing supporters, illustrating how the contest functioned as a referendum on presidential politics in a red district.
Behn, a Democratic state representative, criticized Trump-era economic policies she said favored corporate interests, while Van Epps embraced a platform of fiscal restraint and national security. Republicans highlighted Behn’s past remarks about Nashville and her self-description as a “radical,” using those clips in late-campaign advertising.
Van Epps has suggested he would seek a seat on the House Armed Services Committee, given his background as an Army veteran and former state official. He also emphasized border security and cost-of-living concerns as central themes of his campaign.
Politically, the result preserves Republicans’ hold on the district and keeps the House majority within reach of their described narrow margin. Democrats characterized the night as a signal that red districts can still be competitive, while Republicans framed it as evidence that the party can defend its base even amid economic discontent and a polarized national climate.
Ongoing analysis will consider how turnout and messaging influenced the result, but Van Epps’s victory stands as a notable confirmation of Republican resilience in a district long considered a bellwether for the balance of power in Congress.
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