UPDATE: Republican Matt Van Epps has been declared the winner in the highly anticipated special election for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District. This pivotal race, originally thought to be a formality after President Donald Trump won the district by an impressive 22 points last year, has captured national attention and raised eyebrows.
Decision Desk projected Van Epps as the victor at approximately 9:06 p.m. ET, with him leading the vote count at about 53% and around 65% of districts reporting. Major networks including CNN and NBC News confirmed his win shortly after, at around 9:30 p.m. ET.
Trump congratulated Van Epps on his victory through his Truth Social platform, stating, “Congratulations to Matt Van Epps on his BIG Congressional WIN in the Great State of Tennessee. The Radical Left Democrats threw everything at him, including millions of dollars. Another great night for the Republican Party!!!”
The race escalated dramatically as Democratic candidate Aftyn Behn launched a vigorous campaign, drawing attention and support that positioned her within striking distance of Van Epps. Polls indicated a significant narrowing between the two candidates, with Behn’s campaign even nearing a tie at points leading up to the election.
As the election date approached, Republican leaders voiced their concerns, recalling previous special elections that hinted at a shifting political landscape. With the specter of a potential upset looming, Tennessee Republicans intensified their support for Van Epps. Representative Tim Burchett warned on Fox News, “We’ve already got people leaving, talks of others leaving … this is the proverbial canary in the cave! If Matt Van Epps … can’t carry this thing, we’re in trouble. Republicans are asleep at the switch!”
Both parties entered election night with heightened awareness that, regardless of the outcome, a significant Democratic showing could signal challenges for the GOP in the upcoming midterm elections, where Republicans will aim to defend their majority in both the House and Senate.
The implications of this election are profound, not just for Tennessee, but for the national political landscape. As the dust settles, all eyes will be on how these results may shape party strategies and voter sentiments heading into 2024.
Stay tuned for more updates as the situation develops.
