Trump-backed Republican Matt Van Epps wins Tennessee special election, keeping 7th District in GOP hands
Republican Matt Van Epps won Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District special election on December 2, 2025, defeating Democrat Aftyn Behn with 53.9% of the vote and preserving the seat for the GOP ahead of the 2026 midterms.
- Van Epps secured 53.9% to Aftyn Behn’s 45.0%, an 8.9-point margin, with 96,988 votes to 81,044. (Source: Tennessee 7th District special election)
- The vacancy followed Rep. Mark Green’s resignation on July 20, 2025, to pursue a private sector position. (Source: Tennessee 7th District special election)
- Van Epps carried 12 of 14 counties in the district; both candidates won contested primaries on October 7, 2025. (Source: Tennessee 7th District special election)
- Fundraising was competitive: Van Epps raised about $992,716; Behn raised about $1,230,629. (Source: Tennessee 7th District special election)
Election results
Final tally: Matt Van Epps — 53.9% (96,988 votes); Aftyn Behn — 45.0% (81,044 votes). The margin was roughly 8.9 percentage points, keeping the seat under Republican control. (Source: Tennessee 7th District special election)
Van Epps victory: how the results broke down
The outcome shows a clear Republican win but nuanced local geography. Van Epps carried 12 of 14 counties in the district, while Behn performed strongly in population centers that tightened the margin. County-level strength and turnout patterns will be analyzed by both parties. (Source: Tennessee 7th District special election)
“Van Epps carried most rural and exurban counties while Behn’s best showings were in Montgomery and Davidson counties,” the compiled results show.
Primary dynamics and voter geography
Both parties held primaries on October 7, 2025. Van Epps won the GOP nomination with 51.56% of the primary vote, carrying most counties and emerging as the party’s consensus pick. Behn secured the Democratic nomination after close primary results, with strong performances in Montgomery and Davidson counties that later tightened the general-election margin. (Source: Tennessee 7th District special election)
Campaign finance and messaging
Fundraising reflected a competitive contest. Van Epps reported approximately $992,716 raised — including $761,549 in direct contributions and $231,167 in other funding. Behn reported roughly $1,230,629, split between $708,892 in direct contributions and $521,737 in other funding. Despite being out-raised, Van Epps translated funds into a county-by-county advantage. (Source: Tennessee 7th District special election)
Messaging: Van Epps emphasized conservative priorities — fiscal restraint, support for law enforcement and border security — and touted experience in state government. Behn ran as a moderate Democrat focused on local services, health care access and jobs. The contrast gave voters a clear choice ahead of 2026.
Context of the vacancy
The seat opened when Republican Rep. Mark Green resigned on July 20, 2025, citing a move to the private sector and triggering a compressed special-election calendar. National party groups and donors used the accelerated timeline to test messaging and ground operations. (Source: Tennessee 7th District special election)
Why the seat mattered: a midterm barometer
The special election served as an early test ahead of the 2026 midterms. Republicans viewed holding the seat as evidence of continued strength in conservative areas, while Democrats considered improved performance versus 2024 as one sign of momentum despite falling short of a flip. Parties will parse turnout, messaging and fundraising to refine midterm strategy. (Source: Tennessee 7th District special election)
Van Epps background and profile
Matt Van Epps previously served as Tennessee’s commissioner of the Department of General Services (2024–2025) before winning the special election. His state government experience was a central element of his campaign narrative. (Source: Tennessee 7th District special election)
Implications for Huntington Beach, California
Economic impact: The Van Epps victory is unlikely to directly change economic ties between Tennessee’s 7th District and Huntington Beach, but continued GOP control of House seats can push national policy toward lower taxes and reduced regulation — outcomes that conservative business owners in Huntington Beach may favor. Local firms connected to federal contracting should monitor committee priorities. (Source: Tennessee 7th District special election)
Political consequences: For Huntington Beach conservatives, the result reinforces GOP messaging and may be used to energize turnout, fundraising and local recruitment heading into 2026. Local Democrats may revisit candidate selection and messaging in response. (Source: Tennessee 7th District special election)
Social and cultural effects: The race underscored issues that resonate with conservative communities — public safety, fiscal discipline and law enforcement support — which may shape local civic engagement and debates in Huntington Beach about school boards, public safety and business regulation. (Source: Tennessee 7th District special election)
Practical applications for residents
- Campaign strategy: Local campaigns can study targeted county outreach, law-and-order messaging and efficient fund deployment used in this race.
- Organizing: Conservative groups may cite Van Epps’s win when recruiting volunteers and donors for turnout drives and fundraising ahead of 2026.
- Business advocacy: Local business organizations can point to the result when lobbying for lower costs and less regulatory burden at state and federal levels. (Source: Tennessee 7th District special election)
Fact check and sources
All results and campaign details in this story are drawn from compiled election data and public campaign filings documented in the Tennessee 7th District special election summary. For full vote counts, county breakdowns and fundraising details, see the linked election summary. (Source: Tennessee 7th District special election)
Reporting note
This article pulls from public election records and campaign filings summarized in the official election compilation. Numbers and dates — including vote totals, primary dates and the resignation on July 20, 2025 — reflect those public records. (Source: Tennessee 7th District special election)
