Summary (tl;dr)

A special election for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District is underway today, December 2, 2025, drawing national attention as a surprisingly competitive race in a historically Republican stronghold.

Essential Background

The special election was necessitated by the resignation of Republican Representative Mark Green on July 20, 2025, who stepped down to take a private sector job. This created a vacancy in Tennessee's 7th Congressional District, requiring a new election to fill the remainder of the term. Historically, the 7th District has been a reliably Republican area, with former President Donald Trump carrying it by a significant margin in the 2024 presidential election. However, new district boundaries drawn in 2022 incorporated parts of Democratic-leaning Nashville, introducing a more diverse electorate into what was once a solidly red region.

The Full Story

Today, December 2, 2025, voters across Tennessee's 7th Congressional District are casting their ballots in a closely watched special election. The leading candidates are Republican Matt Van Epps and Democrat Aftyn Behn, with four independent candidates also on the ballot. Matt Van Epps, an Army veteran and former state government commissioner, has garnered endorsements from former President Donald Trump and the previous incumbent, Mark Green. His Democratic opponent, Aftyn Behn, currently serves as a state representative and is known as a progressive activist. Despite the district's strong Republican history, recent independent polling suggests a much tighter contest than expected, with some surveys indicating only a single-digit lead for Van Epps. This surprising competitiveness has led to significant investment from national political organizations and visits from high-profile figures, including rallies by Donald Trump and former Vice President Kamala Harris, aimed at boosting their respective candidates. Polls throughout the district are set to close at 7 p.m. Central Time.

Why It Matters

This special election in Tennessee's 7th Congressional District is being viewed as a critical barometer for the national political landscape ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. A particularly close result, or an upset victory for the Democratic candidate, would signal potential shifts in voter sentiment and could energize the Democratic party, especially following their recent overperformances in other special elections. For Republicans, successfully defending this historically safe seat is crucial to maintaining their narrow majority in the U.S. House of Representatives and affirming support for their platform. The race also underscores the impact of the 2022 redistricting, which integrated more Democratic-leaning areas into the 7th District, transforming what was once a reliably Republican contest into a surprisingly competitive battleground. The considerable national attention and financial backing from both major parties highlight the perceived significance of this election beyond merely filling a vacant seat.

Geographic Location

• Tennessee, United States (location of the 7th Congressional District special election)
• Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, United States (parts of the city are included in the 7th Congressional District; former Vice President Kamala Harris appeared at an event here to encourage Democratic turnout)
• Franklin, Williamson County, Tennessee, United States (House Speaker Mike Johnson and Republican candidate Matt Van Epps held a rally here)
• Perry County, Tennessee, United States (reported early primary results quickly)
• Humphreys County, Tennessee, United States (final vote count for primary was completed here)
• Clarksville, Montgomery County, Tennessee, United States (part of the 7th Congressional District; Democrat Aftyn Behn performed well here in the primary)