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● InformationalElections / Campaigns

Republican Matt Van Epps wins US House special election in Tennessee

Van Epps won the special election and emphasized his support for President Trump.

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Outlet credibilityWDEF70/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 12, 2026

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WDEForiginal publisher not identified
Dec 2, 2025
tl;dr

Republican Matt Van Epps defeated Democrat Aftyn Behn in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District special election, keeping the seat in Republican hands. President Donald Trump’s support featured prominently in Van Epps’s campaign.

Community verdict

VOTING CLOSED
How does this story look for
Matt Van Epps R · TN-7
NOT RATEDCLOSED

No good or bad look here

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

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

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Matt Van Epps
R · TN-7

Republican winner of the Tennessee 7th Congressional District special election

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who campaigned for Van Epps and congratulated him after the result

Trump's version of this story ↗
Aftyn Behn
D · TN

Democratic candidate defeated in the Tennessee 7th Congressional District special election

Behn's version of this story ↗
Mark E. Green
Former U.S. Representative (R-TN)

Former representative whose retirement left the seat vacant

Mike Johnson
R · LA-4

Speaker of the House who rallied supporters for Van Epps

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

Former vice president who participated in a canvassing kickoff for Behn

Representative who headlined a virtual rally for Behn

ALSO MENTIONED  Al Gore, Former vice president who headlined a virtual rally for Behn; CJ Warnke, House Majority PAC communications director who commented on the result; Joe Gruters, GOP chair who rallied supporters for Van Epps; Ken Martin, Democratic national party chair who campaigned for Behn

Part of a bigger story

12 OUTLETS
Matt Van Epps Wins Tennessee’s 7th District Special Election

Matt Van Epps defeated Aftyn Behn to win Tennessee’s 7th District special election for the U.S. House. Left-leaning outlets frame the narrow margin as a warning for Republicans and a sign of Democratic momentum. Center outlets focus on the result and its wider electoral implications, with some emphasizing the margin’s potential significance for Republicans. Right-leaning outlets consider what the result means for both parties and point to district boundaries as a factor in Van Epps’s win.

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