In a stunning upset that’s got the left scratching their heads, Matt Van Epps (R-Tenn.) clinched a decisive victory in the special election for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District on Tuesday night.
Newsmax reported that despite a flood of Democratic cash aimed at flipping this traditionally Republican stronghold, Van Epps emerged victorious with a solid lead. This win helps maintain the GOP’s razor-thin House majority, a critical outcome in a politically charged climate.
This race was no small affair, as the 7th District, stretching from the Kentucky border to Alabama and including parts of North and West Nashville, has long been a GOP bastion.
Democrats poured millions into this contest, hoping to exploit the narrow Republican edge in the House, currently at 220 to 213 with two vacancies.
Those vacancies stem from the passing of Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-Texas) and the resignation of Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.), making every special election a high-stakes showdown.
Despite the heavy spending and a late Emerson College poll showing a near tie, Van Epps didn’t just squeak by—he won by nearly 9 points.
Former President Donald Trump, who endorsed Van Epps, was quick to celebrate the win on Truth Social, framing it as a major blow to the opposition.
“Congratulations to Matt Van Epps on his BIG Congressional WIN in the Great State of Tennessee,” Trump posted. “The Radical Left Democrats threw everything at him, including Millions of Dollars.”
Trump’s enthusiasm underscores what many conservatives see as a rejection of progressive policies trying to infiltrate even the reddest of districts.
The final numbers tell the story: Van Epps secured 96,988 votes (53.9%), while Democratic challenger Aftyn Behn trailed with 81,044 (45.1%), and independents split the tiny remainder.
RNC Chairman Joe Gruters didn’t mince words in framing this as a broader mandate against far-left ideas.
“Voters didn't just reject Aftyn Behn and her anti-Tennessee, abolish-the-police agenda — they rejected the Democrats' entire radical platform,” Gruters declared.
Gruters’ statement taps into a sentiment shared by many who feel Democratic priorities often clash with the values of hardworking Tennesseans, and Van Epps’ win seems to affirm that view.
Stepping into the role vacated by retired Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.), who left to launch Prosimo—a cloud-computing venture targeting Chinese Communist Party influence—Van Epps has a strong voter mandate to build on this legacy.
