The GOP needed this. A loss here would have been incredibly damaging.
And an election victory for this Republican has the Democrats melting down.
Republican Matt Van Epps soared to victory in Tennessee’s 7th District special election, smashing Democrat Aftyn Behn’s dreams of flipping a rock-solid conservative seat. This win hands the GOP a vital boost, proving once again that President Trump’s endorsement is pure gold in the Volunteer State.
Van Epps, a former Army helicopter pilot who proudly carries Trump’s seal of approval, clinched the race with 99% of votes counted, leading by a solid 8.9 points. Sure, it’s not the massive 22-point blowout Trump delivered in the district last year, but in today’s cutthroat political arena, every win counts against the radical left’s endless schemes.
Democrats had pinned their wild hopes on Behn, a 36-year-old state rep who came dangerously close in late polls, prompting a frantic rally cry from Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson. But in the end, Tennessee voters saw through the hype and chose a true patriot over someone with a track record of trashing what makes America great.
“Congratulations to Matt Van Epps on his BIG Congressional WIN in the Great State of Tennessee,” Trump said on Truth Social. “The Radical Left Democrats threw everything at him, including Millions of Dollars. Another great night for the Republican Party!!! President DJT.”
At his raucous victory bash, Van Epps fired a shot across the bow at spineless Republicans who dare stray from the MAGA path. “Politicians who run from the president or abandon the common-sense policies that the American people gave us a resounding mandate on do so at their own peril,” he declared. “No matter what the DC insiders or liberal media say, this is President Trump’s party. I’m proud to be a part of it and can’t wait to get to work.”
Behn racked up a lopsided win in ultra-liberal Davidson County, home to Nashville’s elite crowd, beating Van Epps three-to-one there. But the rest of the district—packed with hardworking folks in central Tennessee’s red counties—rallied behind the Republican, burying her under a wave of common-sense votes.
Trying to salvage her image after old podcast rants surfaced where she trashed country music, Behn showed up at her campaign party in a flashy rhinestone suit, belting out Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 like it could erase her disdain for Tennessee’s heart and soul.
“Tonight isn’t the end. It is the beginning of a next chapter of Tennessee and American politics — one of possibility, one of power and one of progress for the people that we love,” she stated.
Even Democratic National Committee boss Ken Martin tried to put lipstick on this pig, claiming in a statement that the loss somehow puts his party “on offense and Republicans on the ropes” heading into the midterms.
The seat opened up when former Rep. Mark Green, a Homeland Security Committee chair, ditched Congress for the private sector earlier this year. Now, with Van Epps stepping in, the GOP’s grip tightens just as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene gears up to exit in January.
Once sworn in, Van Epps will bump Republicans to 220 House seats against Democrats’ 213, with two blue-district vacancies set for early 2026 specials. That’s a razor-edge majority, but wins like this keep the radical agenda at bay.
Johnson hit the trail hard for Van Epps on Monday, while Trump dialed up two tele-rallies after a shocking Emerson poll showed the race neck-and-neck at 48%-46%. “This is a big deal, because right now we’re like three votes up on the radical left [in the House], and this would be a wonderful victory for us,” Trump urged voters. “It’ll be really a positive sign.”
Johnson echoed the urgency, admitting “every seat matters more than ever” and calling his majority “razor-thin.”
Longtime GOP strategist Chip Saltsman nailed it when he told the Associated Press, “In Tennessee, it’s been a long time since we thought about beating Democrats. It’s been a lot more important to beat Republicans in a primary.” But this time, he added, “we had to pay attention.”
Behn wasn’t short on elite backing, with the Dems’ House Majority PAC dumping $1 million her way, plus cameos from DNC’s Martin, Kamala Harris on her book tour, Al Gore, and even Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in a virtual rally. Trump dubbed her the “AOC of Tennessee” for refusing to back down from 2020 anti-cop rants and slamming the state as “racist” in a 2019 op-ed.
“The Democrats are spending a fortune, and we don’t want people that want to raise your taxes,” Trump warned on Monday. “But [Behn] said two things above all else that bothered me. Number one, she hates Christianity. Number two, she hates country music. How the h*ll can you elect a person like that?”
GOP brass eyed this race as a chance to deliver a knockout punch, shutting down Dem boasts that even deep-red turf is vulnerable amid Trump’s poll dips and economic gripes.
After left-wing sweeps in New Jersey and Virginia off-years, this Tennessee smackdown sends a clear message: America’s heartland still stands with Trump and rejects the radical Democrats’ nonsense.
