Republican Matt Van Epps has gained a hotly contested particular election for a deep-red congressional seat in Tennessee, NBC Information tasks, seeing off a Democratic problem for the longtime GOP district.
Although President Donald Trump carried the seventh Congressional District by 22 factors in 2024, Republican tremendous PACs poured hundreds of thousands into defending the seat as Van Epps confronted off in opposition to Aftyn Behn, a Democratic state consultant. Democrats spent nearly as a lot attempting to seize it, as Trump’s political standing has taken successful this 12 months and the Democratic Social gathering made positive factors in November elections in New Jersey, Virginia and different states.
Nonetheless, this pink district remained Republican. Van Epps, an Military veteran and former state official, ran on reliably MAGA themes and promised to proceed the legacy of Mark Inexperienced, a Republican who resigned from the seat this 12 months.
However Democrats did considerably lower the GOP margin within the district from only a 12 months in the past. With about 93% of the anticipated vote counted, principally from Republican-leaning areas, Van Epps had a 7.5-point districtwide lead. It continues a sample of Democrats making large positive factors in elections this 12 months in comparison with the 2024 outcomes, from particular elections to these statewide leads to November.
Whereas Behn had a bonus amongst individuals who voted early, Van Epps prevailed by working up the rating in votes forged on Election Day itself — suggesting Republican efforts to ramp up turnout have been profitable.
Republicans cheered the outcomes, with Trump writing in a Fact Social put up, “Congratulations to Matt Van Epps on his BIG Congressional WIN within the Nice State of Tennessee. The Radical Left Democrats threw every thing at him, together with Thousands and thousands of {Dollars}. One other nice evening for the Republican Social gathering!!! President DJT”
Republican Nationwide Committee Chairman Joe Gruters added in an announcement, “Voters didn’t simply reject Aftyn Behn and her anti-Tennessee, abolish-the-police agenda — they rejected the Democrats’ total radical platform.”
However Democrats noticed Behn’s efficiency as a great signal for the get together forward of the 2026 midterm elections.
“What occurred tonight in Tennessee makes it clear: Democrats are on offense and Republicans are on the ropes,” Democratic Nationwide Committee Chairman Ken Martin mentioned in an announcement, calling the outcomes a “historic” overperformance and “a flashing warning signal for Republicans heading into the midterms.”
Nationwide get together figures flooded into the district forward of election Day, and the 2 candidates engaged in a fiery, costly advert battle as each side noticed a low-turnout, closer-than-usual race creating.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris and Democratic Nationwide Committee Chair Ken Martin canvassed with Behn, who represents a part of Nashville within the state Home. Trump held tele-rallies for Van Epps and took to social media to induce Republican voters to end up, and Home Speaker Mike Johnson joined Van Epps within the district Monday.
Johnson, R-La., and Van Epps appeared cautiously optimistic about their probabilities in an interview with Fox Information at a rally in Franklin.
“A particular election is an odd factor, something can occur, so we take no vote as a right,” Johnson mentioned, remarking that turnout is “usually stifled” when elections don’t fall on the same old second Tuesday of November.
In an interview with NBC Information in October, forward of the first, Van Epps mentioned he was campaigning on “safety, alternative and prosperity” and touted Inexperienced’s work with the Trump administration on border safety, saying it “serves as a great way to choose up the ball and run with it.” His marketing campaign has additionally centered on the price of residing, with adverts criticizing profession politicians for “reckless spending” and saying prices are “uncontrolled.”
Republican teams spent over $3.5 million in adverts attacking Behn and attempting to make Van Epps’ case, in response to AdImpact, an advert monitoring agency. MAGA Inc., the first tremendous PAC aligned with Trump’s political operation, spent over $1.7 million in impartial expenditures because it jumped into the race in mid-November.
The tremendous PACs backing Van Epps labored to make Behn unelectable and persuade GOP voters to end up to again Van Epps in opposition to her.
Tremendous PACs backing Van Epps and conservative information shops have used clips of Behn saying that she was “a really radical particular person” and that she “hates this metropolis,” referring to Nashville. Trump obtained into the motion, attacking Behn on social media and urging Republicans to go to the polls.
Democrats hit again in TV, radio and on-line adverts, with Home Democrats’ foremost tremendous PAC spending greater than $800,000 and Behn’s marketing campaign spending over $1 million.
Behn and Democratic teams supporting her marketing campaign attacked Van Epps in adverts for saying he wouldn’t have voted for the invoice to launch information associated to the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier and convicted intercourse offender. Trump signed the invoice into regulation on Nov. 21 after having accomplished an about-face on the legislative push.
Van Epps, a colonel within the Tennessee Military Nationwide Guard, plans to maintain his fee whereas in Congress. He advised NBC Information in October that he’ll serve the place he’s wanted by Home Republicans however mentioned he’d like to affix the Home Armed Providers Committee, given his background within the army.
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