Republican Matt Van Epps secured victory in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District special election on December 2, 2025, defeating Democrat Aftyn Behn to fill the seat left vacant when Rep. Mark Green resigned earlier that year. The election drew national attention as Democrats sought to contest a district that had leaned Republican by more than 20 percentage points in recent cycles.
Van Epps, a former commissioner in Governor Bill Lee’s administration, emerged from a competitive primary in October to become the Republican nominee. Behn, a state representative, represented the Democratic candidacy in a race that political observers watched closely for signs of shifting suburban voting patterns. While Van Epps maintained GOP control of the seat, preliminary results suggest the margin differed notably from the 2024 baseline.
The special election concluded with polls closing at 8:00 PM Eastern Time on December 2. Results trickled in from county boards across Middle and West Tennessee throughout the evening, with varying participation levels reported across different jurisdictions. Complete official certification of the vote totals remained pending as county canvasses continued their review processes.
Who Won the Tennessee Special Election? Final Results and Vote Counts
Key Insights From the Results
- Van Epps secured victory in this R+20 district without triggering a party shift in the seat
- Preliminary reports show Van Epps received nearly 80% support in at least one county with over 32,000 votes cast
- The margin appeared closer than the 2024 baseline, though official precinct-level counts remained partially unavailable
- Despite Democratic investment in the race, no flip occurred in this heavily Republican district
- County-level participation showed significant variation across District 7 jurisdictions
- Results were reported live on election night, though full certification awaited county canvass boards
Snapshot of Reported Results
| Candidate | Party | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Matt Van Epps | Republican | Winner |
| Aftyn Behn | Democrat | Defeated |
| County-level vote totals pending official certification | ||
What Was the Tennessee Special Election For? District, Date and Background
The District and Why the Election Was Called
Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District encompasses portions of Middle and West Tennessee, including parts of Nashville and surrounding suburban counties. The seat became vacant in July 2025 when Representative Mark Green resigned to pursue a private sector opportunity, triggering the special election mechanism under state law. Green had held the seat since 2019 and won re-election by a comfortable margin in 2024.
The district carries a solid Republican lean, with Donald Trump and Mark Green both winning it by more than 20 percentage points in the 2024 election cycle. This partisan tilt made the race theoretically favorable for the GOP nominee from the outset, though some analysts suggested shifting suburban voting patterns might create competitive conditions.
Election Timeline
- July 2025: Representative Mark Green resigns for private sector opportunity
- October 7, 2025: Primary elections held to select party nominees
- December 2, 2025: Special election held; polls close at 8:00 PM ET
- December 2, 2025: Results reported live by news outlets
- Ongoing: County canvass boards reviewing and certifying vote totals
Candidates, Voter Turnout and Key Metrics
Meet the Candidates
Matt Van Epps entered the race as the Republican nominee, having previously served as a commissioner in Governor Bill Lee’s administration. His candidacy emphasized his executive experience and familiarity with state government operations. On the Democratic side, Aftyn Behn brought legislative experience as a state representative, positioning herself as a contrast to the Republican nominee in a district that had shown signs of ideological evolution in recent years.
Both candidates advanced from their respective primaries in October, setting up the general election matchup that concluded in December. The race attracted attention from both national party organizations, though official vote totals showed Van Epps maintaining the expected partisan advantage.
Understanding Voter Turnout
Specific turnout figures for the District 7 special election remained limited in preliminary reports. County-level data from related elections showed varying participation patterns. For context, Knox County recorded 220,724 total votes in a recent comparable election, while smaller counties like Jefferson reported significantly lower participation at approximately 1,028 votes.
Complete turnout percentages for the District 7 special election were not fully available at the time of initial results reporting. Historical data from similar elections in Tennessee suggests special election turnout typically falls below general election levels.
What Happens Next: Certification and Implications
Certification Process
Following the December 2 election, the results move through Tennessee’s certification process. County canvass boards review vote totals from their respective jurisdictions before submitting certified figures to the state election commission. This standard procedure typically concludes within weeks after an election, though specific timelines for this race were not detailed in available reports.
Once certification is complete, Matt Van Epps will be sworn into office to serve the remainder of the current congressional term. The swearing-in occurs shortly after certification, allowing the seat to be filled without significant delay.
Political Implications
Van Epps’s victory maintains Republican control of the 7th Congressional District seat. His win leaves two remaining House vacancies across the country, both of which were formerly held by Democrats. The Tennessee result suggests the district’s fundamental partisan orientation remained intact despite the closer-than-expected margin suggested by preliminary reports.
No recounts have been initiated for this race, and no further runoffs were scheduled for the District 7 contest. Concurrent state legislative runoffs in Tennessee occurred separately and did not affect the congressional race outcome.
The special election preserved the Republican majority in the 7th Congressional District. While the margin appeared narrower than the 2024 baseline, the outcome did not produce the party switch that some observers had considered possible given suburban voting trends.
Results by County: Context From Related Races
Complete official county breakdowns for District 7 were not fully available in preliminary results reporting. For contextual understanding, the following data from a related 2024 congressional race illustrates typical voting patterns in Tennessee districts:
| County | Republican % | Republican Votes | Democrat % | Democrat Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carter | 80.73% | 18,707 | 16.59% | 3,844 |
| Knox | 62.41% | 137,759 | 37.59% | 82,965 |
| Rutherford | 59.08% | 81,334 | 37.42% | 51,523 |
| Williamson | 65.77% | 62,135 | 30.92% | 29,210 |
These figures from District 1 demonstrate typical Republican margins in Middle Tennessee congressional races. Video coverage from the District 7 race indicated Van Epps received approximately 80% support in at least one county with more than 32,000 votes, consistent with historical patterns in the region.
Clarifying What We Know and What Remains Uncertain
Established Information
- Matt Van Epps won the December 2 special election
- The race was for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District
- The election filled a vacancy caused by Mark Green’s July 2025 resignation
- Van Epps secured strong support across most counties
- GOP control of the seat was maintained
- No party switch occurred in the district
Information That Remains Unclear
- Official certified county vote totals for District 7
- Specific turnout percentages and comparison to prior elections
- Exact margin figures for the Van Epps victory
- Timeline for official certification completion
- Whether any precinct-level irregularities occurred
- Detailed breakdown by individual District 7 precincts
The Political Context of This Election
The December 2025 special election arrived amid heightened national attention on congressional races, particularly those in districts with demonstrated bipartisan voting patterns. Tennessee’s 7th District had shown relative stability in partisan preference while occasionally producing closer margins than raw enrollment numbers might suggest.
Republicans consolidated control of the seat despite Democratic investment in the race. The outcome provided a data point for political analysts examining suburban voting behavior in mid-sized metropolitan areas, though complete analysis awaited official vote certification from all participating counties.
The seat’s filling brings the total number of House vacancies down to two, with those positions previously held by Democrats remaining unfilled pending their own special election processes.
Sources and Official Information
Live results reported on December 2, 2025, confirmed Matt Van Epps as the recipient of the District 7 seat, with victory confirmed across county reporting stations throughout the evening.
For official Tennessee election results, readers may consult the Tennessee Secretary of State’s election division. The Federal Election Commission maintains campaign finance records for federal races including congressional special elections. Ballotpedia tracks special election schedules and results across all states.
Summary
Republican Matt Van Epps won Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District special election on December 2, 2025, defeating Democrat Aftyn Behn to succeed Mark Green, who resigned in July 2025. The victory preserved Republican control of the seat in a district that had voted by more than 20 percentage points for Republican candidates in 2024. Preliminary results indicated strong Van Epps support across most counties, with at least one county reporting approximately 80% backing for the winner. Full official certification of county-level vote totals remained pending at the time of initial reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Tennessee special election held?
The special election for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District took place on December 2, 2025, with polls closing at 8:00 PM Eastern Time.
Who won the Tennessee District 7 special election?
Republican Matt Van Epps won the election, defeating Democrat Aftyn Behn to fill the vacancy left by Mark Green’s resignation.
Why was there a special election in Tennessee?
The special election was called because Representative Mark Green resigned in July 2025 to accept a private sector opportunity, creating a vacancy that state law requires be filled through a special election.
Are the election results official?
Results were reported live on election night, but official certification through county canvass boards remained ongoing. No recounts have been requested.
Where can I find official Tennessee election results?
The Tennessee Secretary of State’s office provides official election results through their elections division website.
What counties are in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District?
The district includes portions of Cheatham, Dickson, Houston, Humphreys, Montgomery, Robertson, Stewart, and parts of Davidson and Sumner counties, spanning parts of Middle and West Tennessee.
How did voter turnout compare to past elections?
Specific turnout comparisons were not fully available in preliminary reports, though special elections typically draw lower participation than general elections.
Related stories
Catherine Roy is Editor-in-Chief at Kelowna Daily, overseeing editorial policy, publication decisions and corrections for Okanagan and BC coverage.