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MAGA fearful after narrow GOP win in red Tennessee district

Behn lost the special election but won Nashville by a wide margin and outperformed the prior Democratic presidential result in the district.

MAGA fearful after narrow GOP win in red Tennessee district
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This article1 analysis · Oct 12, 2026
tl;dr

Republican nominee Matt Van Epps defeated Democrat Aftyn Behn 54%-45% in a special election for Tennessee’s 7th District. Behn’s close loss and stronger-than-expected showing in rural counties drew attention as a test of the parties and of Donald Trump’s influence.

Community verdict

VOTING CLOSED
How does this story look for
Aftyn Behn D · TN
NOT RATEDCLOSED

No good or bad look here

This story reports what happened without casting Behn in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Behn’s record.

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

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Aftyn Behn
D · TN

Democratic candidate who lost the special election for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Matt Van Epps
R · TN-7

Republican nominee who won the special election for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District

Van Epps's version of this story ↗
Jim Cooper
Former U.S. Representative (D-TN)

Former Tennessee congressman who represented Nashville before redistricting

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President whose district-level support and political influence are discussed in connection with the race

Kamala Harris
Former U.S. Senator (D-CA)

Former vice president whose 2024 district result is compared with Behn’s and who campaigned in Nashville

Steve Cohen
D · TN-9

Tennessee representative described as the state’s sole Democratic member of Congress

Part of a bigger story

2 OUTLETS
Matt Van Epps Defeats Aftyn Behn in Tennessee 7th District Special Election
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