Watch: What Tennessee's special election means for the Republican party
In a special election held Tuesday in Tennessee, Republican Matt Van Epps won the congressional seat, defeating Democrat Aftyn Behn. The election is significant because, despite a Republican victory, the margin was notably smaller than Donald Trump's 22-point lead in the same district in November 2024.
The story so far
- Dec 2
- Dec 3
How outlets cover it
3 outletsNot rated on the left–right scale. It describes Western party politics and doesn’t fit state media or outlets outside that system, so we show ownership and country instead.
Open questions and key claims
Trump carried the 7th congressional district by 22 points in 2024.
I am asking all America First Patriots in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District to please GET OUT AND VOTE for Matt Van Epps!
Van Epps held a 52% to 46% lead.
Trump carried the district by 15 points in 2020 and 22 points in 2024.
Cook’s Political Report describes this district as “leans Republican.”
With about 96 percent of votes counted, Van Epps had 53.9 percent, while Behn had 45 percent, according to the AP.
Who and where
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