- Trump endorses Matt Van Epps in TN-7 special.
- GOP aims hold deep-red district comeback.
- Van Epps wins primary over rivals easily.
The special election, which was established after Republican Rep. Mark Green resigned this summer, witnessed an unanticipated burst of spending in recent weeks, saturating the airwaves and stuffing residents’ mailboxes with campaign leaflets.
Matt Van Epps, the Republican candidate, has been backed by more than $1 million by MAGA Inc. It’s the first time the Trump-supporting super PAC has spent money on a campaign since last year’s presidential race, a reminder of this contest’s outsize importance. House Speaker Mike Johnson and GOP chair Joe Gruters addressed supporters in Tennessee on Monday. Trump addressed the crowd by phone and later hosted a tele-rally for Van Epps, his second of the general election.
Democrats recently won by big percentages in New Jersey, Virginia and elsewhere, and a good showing in Tennessee could further embolden the party ahead of midterm elections next November.
The Democratic contender, state Representative Aftyn Behn, has received $1 million from the House Majority PAC. National party chair Ken Martin visited to lobby for Behn. Former Vice President Kamala Harris participated in a canvassing start while in Nashville on a book tour. And former Vice President Al Gore, a Tennessee native, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez hosted a virtual rally on the election’s eve.
The 7th District is one of three seats redesigned in 2022 to decrease the influence of Nashville, the state’s largest city and a Democratic stronghold. Nashville is home to only 1 in 5 of its registered voters, yet last year it went to Trump by a comparable margin and Green by 21 percentage points.
Democrats think bridging the margin would suggest that their party had momentum moving into next year. Republicans remain optimistic that they can protect the seat, and they expect to discount Democratic arguments that even red districts are now in play as Trump battles with low favor ratings and continuing economic unhappiness.
However there are concerns regarding turnout due to the schedule, as early voting continued into Thanksgiving week with Election Day the following Tuesday.
Trump hosted a virtual rally in November with Van Epps, a former state general services commissioner from Nashville who previously served as an Army helicopter pilot, to bolster his candidacy.
Republicans have attempted to use Behn's own statements against her in TV commercials, such as when she called herself a "radical" or said that she was "bullying" state police officers and immigration agents. A common target are comments Behn made about Nashville years ago, when she claimed “I hate this city” and grumbled about bachelorette parties.
Behn has mostly redirected inquiries regarding the comments to concerns about the cost of living. But she has reacted explicitly about Nashville, saying she wants it
“to be a place where working people can thrive”
even if she gets upset with some tourist traps.
Behn, a self-proclaimed “pissed-off social worker,” has denounced Trump’s tariffs and tax reform legislation, both of which Van Epps supports.
Van Epps initially opposed a House move to compel the Justice Department to release further Epstein records, but once the president supported the bill, he shifted his position to align with Trump.
That advertising came in mailers from Your Community PAC, which has spent more than $16 million supporting Democratic politicians around the country since last year.
Who are the main policy differences between Van Epps and Behn?
Both focus on affordability but differ sprucely. Behn as a progressive highlights renewing healthcare cost supports, lowering mileage bills and groceries, and fighting commercial power. Van Epps emphasizes profitable growth through" America First" programs like manufacturing reanimation, energy expansion, and job creation, attacking Democrat duty and spending plans as burdensome.
Behn calls to reverse recent cuts in Tennessee’s pastoral healthcare and expand access, situating herself as a healthcare advocate. Van Epps promises lowered traditional medicine costs and better stager care but ties healthcare precedents nearly to profitable growth measures.
Van Epps opposes revocation and gender reassignment surgery for minors and supports a ban on taxpayer- funded gender surgeries. Behn supports emigrant and transgender rights and has moderated before exams of policing, championing original decision- making on backing.