Update: Republican Matt Van Epps defeated Democrat Aftyn Behn in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District race, the Associated Press projects. Read more here.
Washington — Voters head to the polls Tuesday in central Tennessee for the final 2025 election showdown in a race that could be a referendum on President Trump.
Republican nominee Matt Van Epps, a combat veteran, and Democrat Aftyn Behn, a Tennessee state representative, are vying for the seat in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District to replace former GOP Rep. Mark Green, who resigned in July. Green had represented the district, which stretches from parts of Nashville to the state borders with Kentucky and Alabama and includes many rural counties, since 2019. He won his most recent race by more than 20 points.
Although the election is usually seen as a safe win for Republicans, polls have shown a closer-than-expected race in The Volunteer State, including some describing a single-digit race. Meanwhile, millions of dollars in outside spending have flowed in, while record numbers in both parties have emerged for candidates in recent days.
Still, a Democratic victory in Tennessee’s deep red district would be an uphill battle. But viewers will be watching to see if the race gets into the single-digit margin as a possible harbinger of what’s to come in next year’s elections.
Indicator for midterms
The outcome of Tuesday’s special election, however, will certainly be seen as an indicator of what’s to come in next year’s midterm elections, as Democrats ride a string of recent victories.
Conventional political wisdom dictates that the party that controls the White House often loses ground in midterm elections. And the Tennessee special election follows an outperformance by Democrats in special elections in September, along with a to sweep across key races in the November elections which the party pointed to as evidence of a turning tide among the electorate after bruising the 2024 elections for the party.
In last month’s races, Democrats Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill easily won their gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey, while in New York City, democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani won his mayoral race.
With the momentum in Tennessee, even a narrow loss in Tuesday’s special election would be seen as bolstering Democrats’ momentum heading into the midterms.
A special election with national attention
Tuesday’s special election drew national interest, with millions of dollars in outside spending, along with visits and phone rallies by high-ranking members of both parties, who have been out in the district in recent days to support the candidates.
House Speaker Mike Johnson ran for Van Epps in the district Monday, framing the race as a contrast between the GOP “keeping our promises,” and Democrats imposing their “radical” agenda.
At one point, Johnson called a “friend,” who turned out to be the president. “We have to win this seat,” Mr Trump told the crowd.
“Let’s make it a big win. The whole world is watching Tennessee right now and they’re watching your district,” Mr. Trump said. “It’s a big vote, it has to show something, and it has to show that the Republican party is stronger than it’s ever been.”
Former Vice President Al Gore, who represented Tennessee in Congress, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez were among the Democrats who spoke at a telephone rally for Behn on Monday. Gore said during the November elections, “bipartisan and independent voters have served notice, in huge landslides, that they are sick and tired of Trump’s insanity and cruelty.”
“So it’s no wonder the president started panicking about tomorrow’s election here in Tennessee,” Gore said. “The stage is set, and I believe that Tennesseans are determined to reclaim decency, self-respect and common sense from the most corrupt and dangerous president in American history.”
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A key Tennessee special election is underway between Republican Matt Van Epps and Democrat Aftyn Behn