Van Epps Defeats Radical Leftist Aftyn Behn In Tennessee Special Election
Republican Matt Van Epps secured a critical victory Tuesday night, defeating far-left Democrat Aftyn Behn in the special election for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District.
With 95% of the vote reported, DecisionDeskHQ called the race for Van Epps, who led with 53.9% to Behn’s 45%. Other outlets confirmed the result shortly after, solidifying a major win for the GOP.
The outcome delivers a blow to Democrats who had poured money and manpower into the race, hoping for a surprise upset in a deep-red district. Behn, a self-described “radical” with a history of incendiary remarks and extreme left-wing activism, had drawn national attention and controversy throughout the campaign. She previously voiced support for burning down police stations and backed irreversible transgender surgeries on minors.
The special election was triggered after Rep. Mark Green (R) resigned earlier this year. Green had carried the district by over 20 points, and Van Epps’ win reasserts GOP dominance across a district that spans the Alabama and Kentucky borders and includes parts of Nashville.
Democrats had hoped for a low-turnout shocker, especially with Behn raking in over $1 million between October and mid-November — nearly double Van Epps’ haul in the same period. National left-wing figures including Al Gore and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joined Behn on the trail in a last-ditch push. Meanwhile, Trump-aligned MAGA Inc. poured over $1 million into supporting Van Epps.
Despite the cash imbalance, the GOP base showed up. House Speaker Mike Johnson personally campaigned with Van Epps the day before the election, while President Donald Trump held a tele-rally Monday night urging Tennessee Republicans to surge to the polls.
Van Epps’ win helps shore up the GOP’s narrow House majority, now sitting at 219-213, and averts what would have been a damaging narrative had Behn pulled off the upset.
Behn’s far-left record became a central issue. She had made controversial statements about gender, including claiming that men can give birth, and expressed sympathy with the “trans community” after a transgender-identifying shooter killed six at a Christian school in Tennessee — sparking national outrage. She later vowed to fight “far-right narratives” from outlets like The Daily Wire.
Behn has also supported mailing abortion pills into Tennessee — despite state laws prohibiting it — and declared that “the organizing does not stop just because Roe is overturned.”
She made further headlines last month for saying she “hates country music” and expressing open disdain for the city of Nashville — stances that proved politically toxic in a culturally conservative state.
In contrast, Van Epps ran on an unapologetic America First platform. His campaign focused on restoring law and order, defending traditional values, and advancing Trump’s agenda in Washington. Trump endorsed him early and reiterated his support multiple times in the final stretch of the race.
Van Epps’ win serves as a major victory for House Republicans, a reaffirmation of Trump’s influence in red states, and a rejection of the radical ideology Behn championed.