(The Center Square) – Republican Matt Van Epps defeated Democrat Aftyn Behn in a U.S. congressional race on Tuesday drawing national attention.
The race was called by three media outlets just over 90 minutes after polls closed in the 7th Congressional District. Van Epps, the former commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services, was leading in unofficial returns with more than 53% of the vote to Behn’s more than 45% when the race was called.
Should the result hold through canvassing, Republicans will have a 220-213 edge in the U.S. House of Representatives with two vacancies. Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Texas, died March 5 and Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., resigned Nov. 20. The difference gives the majority party ability to lose three votes across the aisle and still pass legislation if all are present.
The 7th Congressional District stretches through a swath of middle Tennessee from Kentucky to Alabama.
Early voting totals gave Behn a short-lived lead. She’s a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives and led in Davidson County, the home of Nashville.
Second-term Republican President Donald Trump won the district in the 2024 general election by 22%. Republican Rep. Mark Green, who held the seat until he resigned on July 4, won the seat by 21%.
The election drew big names in both parties. Former Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, of California, was in Nashville the week before the election. While she did not officially endorse Behn, she encouraged Democrats to get out and vote. U.S. Rep. Alexander Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., was one of several high-profile Democrats who participated in an election rally for Behn.
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was in Nashville on Monday for a campaign event for Van Epps. Trump endorsed Van Epps and congratulated him on his win, calling the election a “great night for the Republican Party” in a social media post.
Four independent candidates – Teresa “Terri” Christie, Bobby Dodge, Robert James Sutherby and Jon Thorp – drew less than 1% of the vote each.
