US EditionRepublican Matt Van Epps Wins Tennessee Special Election
Matt Van Epps won by about 9 points in a district Trump carried by 22 points in 2024, signaling a 13-point Democratic swing and raising concerns for GOP in 2026 midterms.
- On Tuesday, Republican Matt Van Epps won the special election for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District, defeating Aftyn Behn with 53.9 percent to 45.0 percent, a margin of just over 15,000 votes.
- The special election was prompted by the July resignation of Rep. Mark Green, with both parties' national committees treating it as a national contest, mobilizing top figures and resources.
- Republican-Aligned groups spent over $3.5 million on ads, including $1.7 million from MAGA Inc., $473,000 from Club for Growth, and $767,000 from Conservatives for American Excellence Inc., while President Donald Trump held telerallies and House Speaker Mike Johnson campaigned Monday.
- The result moves House Republicans to 220 seats once Van Epps is sworn in, giving House Speaker Mike Johnson a small buffer that may shrink due to upcoming resignations and special elections.
- Democrats cast the close result as momentum heading into 2026, as Aftyn Behn narrowed the usual Republican margin despite President Donald Trump's 2024 margin in the district and turnout in the special election neared midterm levels.
207 Articles
207 Articles
Republicans Emerge Victorious and Anxious after Tennessee Special Election
Republicans held onto a reliably conservative U.S. House district in Tennessee's special election, but only after a late burst of national spending and high-profile campaigning helped them secure a margin less than half of last year’s race.
Rutland Herald
Oskaloosa HeraldRepublicans emerge victorious and anxious after Tennessee special election
Republicans have held onto a conservative U.S. House district in Tennessee. But that victory in a special election Tuesday came only after a late burst of national spending and high-profile campaigning. Republican Matt Van Epps defeated Democrat Aftyn Behn by…
'Fresh blood is good': Republican makes odd declaration over Johnson's 'exodus problem'
After Democrats’ strong showing in Tuesday’s deep-red Tennessee special election — losing by single digits in a district Trump won by 22 points — political pundits and anonymous Republican lawmakers have begun predicting a large GOP exodus from the House of Representatives after the winter…
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