Trump Praises GOP Victory After Tennessee Special Election Called

Tennessee voters delivered a decisive win for conservatives on Tuesday, handing Trump-endorsed Republican Matt Van Epps a clear victory in a special election that drew national attention. Van Epps, a combat veteran and former state general services commissioner from Nashville, defeated Democrat Aftyn Behn in the race to fill a vacant U.S. House seat.

President Donald Trump celebrated the win on Truth Social, writing:
“Congratulations to Matt Van Epps on his BIG Congressional WIN in the Great State of Tennessee. The Radical Left Democrats threw everything at him, including Millions of Dollars. Another great night for the Republican Party!!! President DJT”

By the time 99% of ballots were counted, Van Epps led Behn 53.9% to 45.1%, a margin of just over 16,000 votes — a significant gap in a race that Democrats attempted to nationalize with heavy outside spending.

The contest marked the first time MAGA Inc. deployed major funding since last year’s presidential election, contributing more than $1 million to support Van Epps. The move signaled the strategic importance conservatives placed on strengthening the House majority under President Trump’s leadership.

Top Republican figures also rallied behind Van Epps. House Speaker Mike Johnson and GOP Chair Joe Gruters campaigned on the ground in Tennessee, while President Trump energized supporters through phone outreach and a tele-rally — his second for Van Epps during the general election.

Democrats invested heavily as well. The House Majority PAC poured in $1 million to boost Behn, and national party chair Ken Martin personally campaigned for her. Former Vice President Kamala Harris, making a book-tour stop in Nashville, helped mobilize canvassers. Meanwhile, former Vice President Al Gore and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez hosted a virtual rally the night before Election Day.

But Behn’s campaign ran into turbulence as scrutiny of her past statements intensified. She drew headlines after dodging questions about whether she supports increased police funding — an issue that has become a liability for Democrats in many swing districts.

CNN’s Kasie Hunt pressed her on social-media posts from 2020 where Behn advocated for dismantling Nashville’s police department. Hunt asked if Behn now believed additional police funding would be beneficial.

Behn responded:
“So those past comments were at a time when I was a private citizen. As an activist and organizer, and now as a Tennessee lawmaker, I represent 40,000 individual opinions and political thought.”

Hunt pushed again:
“And so what do you think now? Would more money for cops be good or bad?”

Behn avoided a direct answer, saying community opinion should determine policy:
“I’ve worked with communities, at least my constituents, want to ensure that there is investment in their community for community safety, community protection, mental health services and that’s what I’m hearing from at least my constituents.”

Despite running for a congressional seat, Behn repeatedly hesitated to articulate clear positions on issues that matter to voters. She also sidestepped when Hunt asked whether she disagreed with any proposals put forward by Kamala Harris.

Behn claimed she hadn’t considered that question, saying:
“Honestly, haven‘t thought about it. I‘ve got 24 hours to — I don‘t mean to be flippant, but I have 24 hours to win this race. And, all I‘ve been thinking about is talking to every last voter possible, at the doors and trying to make my case as to why I am the best candidate.”

When asked again whether she differed with Harris on any policy position, Behn offered no answer.

After the interview, Hunt told viewers she was “surprised” the Democratic hopeful could not identify a single disagreement with Harris — a political liability in a state where President Trump won by nearly 30 points.

Further controversy emerged when resurfaced audio revealed Behn speaking harshly about the city she hoped to represent. In a 2020 podcast, she said:
“I hate the city, I hate the bachelorettes, I hate the pedal taverns, I hate country music, I hate all of the things that make Nashville apparently an ‘it’ city to the rest of the country. But I hate it.”

The seat Van Epps will now fill was vacated by Republican Mark Green, who stepped down in June to take a private-sector position.

With yet another Trump-endorsed candidate securing a congressional win, conservatives say the outcome reinforces President Trump’s influence heading into 2025 — and signals continued voter rejection of progressive messaging in red and purple districts alike.