Update Republican candidate Matt Van Epps has won the special election for the US House, 90% to 10%. He bluntly routed Democrat Aftyn Behn in the western Nashville suburbs. This was an important election for Van Epps. He hoped to provide the Democratic alternative in a solidly Republican safe seat, left vacant by former Congressman Mark Green, who resigned in July after One Big Beautiful Bill Act passage. Van Epps ultimately won the special election by a six-point margin, reinforcing the notion that the district still favors conservative leadership.
Van Epps, a West Point graduate and former army helicopter pilot. He served as Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services under Governor Bill Lee. His campaign received significant firepower and momentum with the support of some of the most powerful Republican leaders. Prominent endorsements included former President Donald Trump, Congressman Mark Green, and Governor Bill Lee. During the closing days of the campaign, Trump used the power of virtual platforms to boost Van Epps. He underscored how essential that support truly was to the campaign’s success.
In addressing his victory, Van Epps stated, “Running from Trump is how you lose. Running with Trump is how you win.” His remarks of supporting Trump’s leadership totally track with the idea that this is what the voters in his district want to hear.
The district, which stretches from Kentucky to Alabama, features a largely rural landscape but includes sections of blue-leaning Nashville and the city of Clarksville. In the 2020 Trump presidential election, he won this district by 15 points. By 2024, he increased that margin to a whopping 22 points. Van Epps’s success reinforces the notion that conservative voters remain loyal to Trump’s policies and leadership style.
Van Epps noted, “Our victory was powered by a movement of Tennesseans that are ready for change. We are grateful to the President for his unwavering support that charted this movement and catapulted us to victory. In Congress, I’ll be all-in with him.” His comments underscore his determination to push the DOT to keep defending principles that are in accord with Trump’s agenda.
Despite Van Epps’s success, political analysts are noting that Aftyn Behn’s performance in this traditionally Republican district was remarkable. Ken Martin, a prominent Democratic strategist, remarked, “Aftyn Behn’s overperformance in this Trump +22 district is historic and a flashing warning sign for Republicans heading into the midterms.”
Behn’s campaign put a spotlight on these key issues, making grocery prices, housing, and healthcare all more affordable for Tennessean families pillars of his platform. Martin emphasized that Behn campaigned on the right issues. At the same time, her Republican opponent focused his campaign on Trump and benefited from heavy Republican spending that allowed him to win in a close race.
The National Republican Congressional Committee chair, Rep. Richard Hudson, praised Van Epps for his accomplishment—honoring the work of others, of course. He stated, “No one is better positioned to take up the mantle and deliver results for Tennessee families, workers, and small business owners.” This difficult choice reflects confidence in Van Epps’s ability to best represent his constituents’ desires no matter what form it takes.