Republican Matt Van Epps won a hotly contested special election in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, holding the seat for the GOP against Democratic challenger Aftyn Behn.

Although Trump carried the district by 22 points in 2024, Democrats narrowed the margin this year, with Van Epps winning by about nine points, highlighting stronger Democratic turnout compared to early voting.

Both parties spent heavily on ads, with Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson campaigning for Van Epps, while Kamala Harris and Democratic leaders supported Behn.

Van Epps, an Army veteran and former state official, ran on MAGA-aligned themes and promised to continue the legacy of former Republican Rep. Mark Green, NBC News has reported.

Despite the Republican victory, Democrats viewed Behn’s performance as a sign of momentum heading into the 2026 midterms.