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Tag: Aftyn Behn
December 3, 2025
News

GOP Holds Off Democrat Surge in Tennessee Special Election.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Republicans secured victory in a closely contested congressional election in Tennessee, maintaining their majority in the House of Representatives.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Republican Matt Van Epps and Democrat Aftyn Behn, with involvement from prominent national figures like President Donald J. Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The election took place in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, with results projected on December 3, 2025.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “Running from Trump is how you lose, running with Trump is how you win.” – Matt Van Epps

🎯IMPACT: The election result signals potential challenges for Republicans in the upcoming midterms, despite retaining the seat.

IN FULL

Republican Matt Van Epps has won a tight race for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District seat. Viewed as a test of Democratic prospects for the next national contest in 2026, the election saw Van Epps beat Democrat Aftyn Behn by an estimated nine points.

Though the GOP was triumphant, the gap was much tighter than in past races, sparking unease among Republicans. “It was dangerous,” Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) observed about the unexpectedly slim margin.

The contest attracted intense national focus and hefty spending from both sides. President Donald J. Trump, with considerable sway in Tennessee, backed Van Epps through a virtual rally. Van Epps tied his bid tightly to Trump, warning the GOP, “Running from Trump is how you lose, running with Trump is how you win.”

Democrat Aftyn Behn, who campaigned on local concerns such as cost of living, called the narrow result a promising signal for Democrats ahead of the 2026 midterms. “The margin was close, and that can only be attributed to the thousands of volunteers who showed out,” she said.

The result has fueled talk about midterm tactics for 2026, as Republicans recognize the need for robust turnout efforts. “In a year, it’s going to be a turnout election, and the left will show up. Hate is a powerful motivator,” Cruz stressed.

Image by Sixflashphoto.

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December 1, 2025
Politics

Democrats Aim for Surprise Win in Tennessee MAGA Stronghold.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A special election is being held in Tennessee’s Republican-heavy congressional district to replace Mark Green (R-TN), who resigned in July.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Republican candidate Matt Van Epps, Democrat candidate Aftyn Behn, the House Majority PAC, President Donald J. Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), and Tennessee voters.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The election takes place on Tuesday, December 2, 2025.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “I hate the city, I hate the bachelorettes, I hate the pedal taverns, I hate country music, I hate all of the things that make Nashville apparently an ‘it’ city to the rest of the country. But I hate it.” — Aftyn Behn in 2020.

🎯IMPACT: A Democratic win could shrink the Republican House majority and disrupt President Trump’s legislative agenda.

IN FULL

On Tuesday, voters in Tennessee’s 7th congressional district will head to the polls in a critical special election to replace former Congressman Mark Green (R-TN), who resigned this past July. While the district, which overwhelmingly voted for President Donald J. Trump by a 22-point margin in the 2024 presidential election, is largely seen as a Republican stronghold, data shows the current race as being nearly neck-in-neck.

Republican candidate Matt Van Epps is facing Democrat state representative Aftyn Behn, with both national parties throwing significant resources into the election contest. A Democrat victory would significantly weaken the Republican majority in the House of Representatives, reducing it to just a single seat. It may portend a Democrat wave election in the 2026 midterms.

Concerningly for the GOP, polling suggests a tighter-than-expected race, with an Emerson College Polling survey showing Van Epps leading Behn by just two percentage points. The district, which includes rural areas, parts of Nashville, and Clarksville, has seen both parties heavily invest in campaign ads and outreach. Black voters, who comprise approximately 15 percent of the district, are considered key to a potential Democratic victory, although turnout remains uncertain.

The tight contest has prompted President Trump to intervene, posting a slew of social media statements over the weekend, urging Republican voters to the polls on Tuesday. Additionally, Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) held a tele-rally for Van Epps, with the President emphasizing the need for voters to turn out.

Behn, who is backed by the Democratic Party’s House Majority PAC, has described herself as the “AOC of Tennessee” and has campaigned openly as a radical progressive—though she has honed her campaign to focus on affordability. However, Behn—who Van Epps has branded as a “crazy leftwing radical”—has found herself recently on the defensive after it was revealed she stated during a 2020 podcast, “I hate the city, I hate the bachelorettes, I hate the pedal taverns, I hate country music, I hate all of the things that make Nashville apparently an ‘it’ city to the rest of the country. But I hate it.”

Image by Sixflashphoto.

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