Victory for Matt Van Epps in Tennessee
Republican candidate Matt Van Epps emerged victorious in a special congressional election in Tennessee, defeating Democratic state Representative Aftyn Behn. He attributed his success to a strong, united Republican effort.
In an interview on Fox News following the election, Van Epps expressed gratitude for President Trump’s early backing, stating that it energized his supporters and was crucial to their victory.
Van Epps secured 53.9% of the votes compared to Behn’s 45.1%. Notably, Trump had previously won the 7th Congressional District by a significant margin of 22 points in 2024.
When questioned about the competitiveness of the race, Van Epps confidently remarked, “We love our margin of victory,” labeling it a “resounding win.”
Following her defeat, Behn claimed her campaign had outperformed expectations with more volunteers and outreach efforts. She suggested that the Republican supermajority might soon face challenges.
Dismissing Behn’s concerns, Van Epps emphasized that his supporters favored “common-sense conservatism” and predicted a strong showing for Republicans in the upcoming 2026 elections to maintain their House majority.
With all 11 Republican primary candidates rallying behind him post-election, he asserted that the GOP remains robust. “That’s the type of unity and momentum we’re taking forward to continue to win,” he stated.
President Trump took to Truth Social to celebrate Van Epps’ victory, proclaiming it as “Another great night for the Republican Party!!!” This win provided Republicans with renewed optimism after facing setbacks in previous elections.
<p“Tonight you sent a message loud and clear: The people of middle Tennessee stand with President Donald J. Trump,” declared Van Epps during his election night celebration.
