Republicans win Tennessee election despite Democratic fightback

December 3, 2025

Republicans maintained their narrow House majority by winning a special congressional election in Tennessee's 7th District, with Matt Van Epps defeating Democrat Aftyn Behn by approximately nine percentage points. However, the victory margin was significantly smaller than the 22-point Republican advantage achieved in the same district during the November 2024 elections, raising concerns among GOP members about their standing ahead of 2026 midterms. Both parties invested millions and deployed high-profile surrogates to this traditionally Republican district, which hasn't elected a Democrat in over four decades.

Who is affected

Republican Matt Van Epps (winner of the election)
Democrat Aftyn Behn (losing candidate)
Republican Party members and House leadership
Democratic Party members and operatives
President Donald Trump and his political standing
Residents of Tennessee's 7th Congressional District (spanning Alabama border to Kentucky, including parts of Nashville)
House Republicans maintaining their slender majority
Senator Ted Cruz and Speaker Mike Johnson (commenting/involved Republicans)
Former Vice-Presidents Kamala Harris and Al Gore (campaigned for Democrats)

What action is being taken

Votes are being counted in the Tennessee congressional race
Both parties are spending millions of dollars to support their respective candidates
Top party officials are visiting Tennessee to hold rallies
Trump is congratulating Van Epps on social media
Republican and Democratic operatives are analyzing and commenting on the election results

Why it matters

This election serves as an important indicator of political momentum heading into the 2026 midterm elections, particularly testing President Trump's continued electoral appeal during his second term. The significantly reduced Republican margin of victory in a reliably conservative district (from 22 points to 9 points) suggests potential vulnerability for Republicans and increased Democratic enthusiasm, even in traditionally safe GOP territory. The race demonstrates that Democratic voters are highly motivated, potentially by opposition to Trump, which could signal challenges for Republicans in maintaining their narrow House majority. The heavy investment and national attention devoted to a special election in a deeply Republican district underscores how competitive the political landscape has become.

What's next

Van Epps will work with House Speaker Mike Johnson to continue delivering "lower costs, a secure border, and our America First agenda"
The 2026 midterm elections will focus on voter turnout, with both parties expecting high motivation among their bases
Republicans will need to determine whether to continue closely aligning with Trump or adjust their strategy based on this closer-than-expected result

Read full article from source: BBC