Trump Calls On Tennessee Republicans To Surge To The Polls
President Donald Trump rallied his supporters in Tennessee Monday night, calling the upcoming special election in the state’s 7th Congressional District a “big deal” and urging Republicans to turn out in droves to elect GOP candidate Matt Van Epps.
Speaking on a tele-rally alongside House Speaker Mike Johnson, Trump emphasized the stakes of the race to replace former Rep. Mark Green, warning that even a slight dip in Republican turnout would be spun as a loss by the media.
“This is a big deal, because right now we’re like, three votes up on the radical left, and this would be a wonderful victory for us,” Trump said. “It’ll be really a positive sign.”
Trump carried the district by more than 20 points in the 2024 election but warned that if Van Epps underperformed that number, pundits would claim Trump had “lost his magic.”
“I want Matt to do better than me, even,” Trump said, adding, “I am asking all America First Patriots in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District to please GET OUT AND VOTE TOMORROW for a phenomenal Candidate, Matt Van Epps, on Election Day, Tuesday, December 2nd! He will be a great congressman and, unlike his opponent, he cherishes Christianity and Country Music — she has openly stated that she hates them both!”
Speaker Johnson, who campaigned in person with Van Epps throughout the day, also joined Trump on the call. Earlier Monday, Johnson appeared at a packed rally in Franklin, Tennessee alongside Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty, and Governor Bill Lee, all throwing their support behind Van Epps.
“It’s all going to come down to the numbers,” Hagerty told the crowd. “The Democrats have seen an opportunity. They’re counting on us to slide into December 2 having enjoyed Thanksgiving and not thinking that this seat is at risk. The message that we can send from here in Tennessee has to be loud and clear. Not only is Tennessee a red state, Tennessee seven is a red district, and the reputation of our state is on the line.”
Democrat Aftyn Behn, Van Epps’s opponent, also held a virtual rally Monday evening, which featured far-left figures like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and former Vice President Al Gore. Democrats are hoping for strong turnout in Nashville and are banking on rural Republican apathy.
More than 84,000 early votes were cast between November 12 and November 26. Tennessee polls will remain open until 7:00 p.m. CST on Tuesday.