Matt Van Epps' victory over Democrat Aftyn Behn was a potential warning sign for Republicans less than a year from the 2026 midterm elections.

Tennessee special election for GOP House seat draws national attention as Republican Matt Van Epps faces Democrat Aftyn Behn in closely watched race.

Early results are showing 36-year-old liberal state Rep. Democrat Aftyn Behn with an early lead over Republican U.S. Army combat veteran Matt Van Epps in the special election for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District — a stunning development in the area considered safe Republican just a few weeks ago.

Republicans have held onto a conservative U.S. House district in Tennessee. But that victory in a special election Tuesday came only after a late burst of national spending and

Republican Matt Van Epps won the Tennessee 7th Congressional special election, but Aftyn Behn's overperformance has Democrats celebrating, too, and sets up an affordability focus in the 2026 midterms.

Matt Van Epps, who was backed by Trump, is projected to defeat Democrat Aftyn Behn in a congressional district the president won by 22 percentage points in 2024.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told reporters Wednesday that Republicans face political “headwinds” after they avoided a Democratic upset in a Tennessee special election Tuesday. He told reporters that it’s “not uncommon” in midterm elections for the party in power to face challenges heading into a midterm election.

Republican Matt Van Epps has won the special US House election for Tennessee’s 7th District, preventing an upset but emboldening Democrats as they were on track to over-perform in a normally deep-red district.

Republican Matt Van Epps defeats Democrat Aftyn Behn in Tennessee's 7th district special election, keeping GOP seat in red district Trump won by 22 points.