Republican Matt Van Epps defeats Democrat Aftyn Behn in Tennessee's 7th district special election, keeping GOP seat in red district Trump won by 22 points.

It’s the last showdown of 2025 following a tide of blue victories as Republicans seek to shore up a thinning GOP House majority.

Tennessee voters will decide between Republican Matt Van Epps and Democrat Aftyn Behn for Tennessee’s open 7th District Congressional seat.

Matt Van Epps, who was backed by Trump, is projected to defeat Democrat Aftyn Behn in a congressional district the president won by 22 percentage points in 2024.

Aftyn Behn had raised Democrats’ hopes for an upset in the conservative stronghold after late polling showed the state lawmaker within striking distance of Van Epps, a former Army helicopter pilot

Republican candidate Matt Van Epps has narrowly defeated Democrat Aftyn Behn in Tuesday's special election for Tennessee's 7th congressional district. Follow live.

President Donald Trump and top Republicans are making a last-ditch push to prevent embarrassment in a hotly contested Tennessee special election for Congress

Tennessee’s 7th congressional district is usually an easy win for Republicans. But Tuesday’s special election gives Democrats hope for an upset as they test just how far their recently successful message of affordability can take them.

Trump congratulated Matt Van Epps, saying in a social media post: “The Radical Left Democrats threw everything at him, including Millions of Dollars. Another great night for the Republican Party!!!”