Republican Matt Van Epps Holds Deep-red House District In Tennessee Special Election

Republican Matt Van Epps has won a hotly contested typical predetermination for a deep-red legislature spot successful Tennessee, NBC News projects, seeing disconnected a Democratic situation for nan longtime GOP district.

Though President Donald Trump carried nan 7th Congressional District by 22 points successful 2024, Republican ace PACs poured millions into defending nan spot arsenic Van Epps faced disconnected against Aftyn Behn, a Democratic authorities representative. Democrats spent almost arsenic overmuch trying to seizure it, arsenic Trump’s governmental opinionated has taken a deed this twelvemonth and nan Democratic Party made gains successful November elections successful New Jersey, Virginia and different states.

Still, this reddish territory remained Republican. Van Epps, an Army seasoned and erstwhile authorities official, ran connected reliably MAGA themes and promised to proceed nan bequest of erstwhile GOP Rep. Mark Green, who resigned from nan spot earlier this year.

But Democrats did importantly trim nan GOP separator successful nan territory from conscionable a twelvemonth ago. With astir a sixth of nan ballot remaining, mostly from Republican-leaning areas, Van Epps had a 5-point districtwide lead.

While Behn had an advantage among group who voted early, Van Epps prevailed by moving up nan people successful votes formed connected Election Day itself — suggesting Republican efforts to ramp up turnout were successful.

National statement figures flooded into nan territory and nan 2 candidates engaged successful a fiery, costly advertisement warfare arsenic some sides saw a low-turnout, closer-than-usual title developing.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris and Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin canvassed pinch Behn, who represents portion of Nashville successful nan authorities House. Trump held telerallies for Van Epps and took to societal media to impulse Republican voters to move out, and House Speaker Mike Johnson joined nan GOP nominee successful nan territory connected Monday.

Johnson and Van Epps seemed cautiously optimistic astir their chances in an question and reply pinch Fox News astatine a rally successful Franklin, Tennessee.

“A typical predetermination is an overseas thing, thing tin happen, truthful we return nary ballot for granted,” Johnson said, remarking that turnout is “often stifled” erstwhile elections don’t autumn connected nan accustomed 2nd Tuesday of November.

In an question and reply with NBC News successful October, up of nan primary, Van Epps said he was campaigning connected “security, opportunity and prosperity” and touted Green’s activity pinch nan Trump management connected separator security, saying it “serves arsenic a bully measurement to prime up nan shot and tally pinch it.” His run has besides focused connected nan costs of living, pinch ads criticizing profession politicians for “reckless spending” and saying costs are “out of control.”

Republican groups spent complete $3.5 cardinal successful ads attacking Behn and trying to make Van Epps’ case, according to AdImpact. MAGA Inc., nan superior ace PAC aligned pinch Trump’s governmental operation, spent complete $1.7 cardinal successful independent expenditures since jumping into nan race successful mid-November.

The ace PACs backing Van Epps worked to make Behn unelectable and person GOP voters to travel retired to backmost nan Republican against her.

Super PACs backing Van Epps and blimpish news outlets person utilized clips of Behn saying she was “a very extremist person” and saying she “hates this city,” referring to Nashville. Trump sewage into nan action, attacking Behn connected societal media and urging Republicans to spell to nan polls.

Democrats deed backmost successful TV, power and online ads, pinch House Democrats’ main ace PAC spending much than $800,000 and Behn’s run spending complete $1 million.

Behn and Democratic groups supporting her run attacked Van Epps successful ads for saying he would not person voted for nan measure to merchandise files related to nan investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, nan precocious financier and convicted activity offender. Trump signed nan measure into rule connected Nov. 21 aft doing an about-face connected nan legislative push.

Van Epps, a colonel successful nan Tennessee Army National Guard, plans to support his committee while successful Congress. He told NBC News successful October that he’ll service wherever he’s needed by House Republicans but said he’d for illustration to subordinate nan House Armed Services Committee, fixed his inheritance successful nan military.