Voters in District 7, located in Nashville, went to the polls on December 2 to choose a replacement for Republican lawmaker Mark Green, who resigned in July to pursue business ventures. The contest became an unexpectedly competitive battle between Republican candidate Matt Van Epps and Democratic challenger Aftyn Behn.
With 95% of the votes counted, Epps edged out Behn by a margin of just 9 percentage points. The result is seen as a “close call” for Republicans in a district long considered one of their strongholds. District 7 is the same area where former President Donald Trump won by 22 points last year, and where Green secured victory by more than 21 points in the previous election.
👉👉Funny Trump Make Christmas Great Again – Merry Christmas Essential T-Shirt
Throughout the campaign, signs emerged that voters in this traditionally conservative area were becoming increasingly receptive to the Democratic candidate. A Behn victory would have further narrowed the already slim Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. This is why Republican-aligned political action committees (PACs) poured millions of dollars into the race to bolster Epps’s chances.
Epps, a former Army veteran and state official, campaigned on MAGA (Make America Great Again) themes and pledged to continue the work of his predecessor, Mark Green.
Republicans welcomed the victory, with President Trump calling it a major win and saying it delivered “a great night” for the party.
However, the mere 9-point gap between Epps and Behn reflects a significant improvement for Democrats compared to the 2024 results.
Democrats see the outcome as a positive sign heading into the 2026 midterm elections. Democratic candidates have also scored recent victories in local elections across New York, Virginia, and New Jersey.
“What happened tonight in Tennessee shows clearly that Democrats are on offense and Republicans are in trouble,” said Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin. He described the Tennessee results as an overperformance and a warning sign for Republicans.
The GOP is now intensifying its efforts to reach voters ahead of next year’s midterms, as Democrats need only three additional seats to retake control of the House. Meanwhile, Republicans must maintain their majority to ensure a stable foundation for President Trump’s policy agenda.