2025 Tennessee's 7th congressional district special election

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2025 Tennessee's 7th congressional district special election
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Tennessee's 7th congressional district
  Matt Van Epps 2025.jpg Rep. Aftyn Behn (cropped).jpg
Nominee Matt Van Epps Aftyn Behn
Party Republican Democratic
Incumbent U.S. Representative

Mark Green
Republican



The 2025 Tennessee's 7th congressional district special election will be held on December 2, 2025, to fill the vacant seat in Tennessee's 7th congressional district. The deadline for entering the special election was on October 7, 2025. [1] The winner will serve in the United States House of Representatives for the remainder of the 119th United States Congress, which will end on January 3, 2027. The seat became vacant on July 20, 2025, following the resignation of Republican Mark Green who took a private sector job. [2] Green resigned after voting to help pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. [3] [4]

Contents

Primary elections took place on October 7, where Republican Matt Van Epps and Democrat Aftyn Behn won their respective primaries. [5] The in-person early voting period ran from November 12 to November 26. [6]

Background

The 7th congressional district is a mixed urban-rural district includes parts of Nashville that are heavily Democratic, such as downtown, two universities, Belmont and Vanderbilt, and most of the city’s majority-black precincts. Surrounding counties, including Cheatham, Dickson, Robertson, and Williamson, are generally affluent and include mainly majority-white exurbs and suburbs. Franklin, in particular, is a wealthy Republican suburban stronghold. Montgomery County, anchored by Clarksville, Tennessee’s fifth-largest city, is politically mixed and slightly more competitive than the district overall. Clarksville is diverse, with White, Black, and Hispanic populations spread throughout the city, and the county often serves as a bellwether for the district. The district’s rural areas are overwhelmingly Republican, consisting of eight counties that are predominantly White, and this portion helps maintain the district’s strongly red character. [7]

In the 2024 presidential election, the district voted for Donald Trump by more than 22%. [8] It also supported Mark Green in 2024 by over 21%. [9] As of 2025, the district has a Cook PVI of R+10. [10]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

  • Matt Van Epps, former commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services (2024–2025) [11]

Eliminated in primary

Withdrawn

Declined

Endorsements

Jody Barrett
Executive branch officials
Local officials
Individuals
Organizations
Gino Bulso
State legislators
Individuals
Matt Van Epps
Executive branch officials
U.S. representative
Statewide officials
State legislators
Local officials
Organizations
Lee Reeves (withdrawn)
State legislators
Local officials
Party officials
  • Lonnie Spivak, former chair of the Nashville Republican Party [24]
Organizations

Fundraising

Italics indicate a withdrawn candidate.

Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
CandidateRaisedSpentCash on hand
Gino Bulso (R)$757,062 [b] $701,501$55,561
Jody Barrett (R)$316,907$255,345$61,562
Stuart Cooper (R)$34,653 [c] $28,793$5,859
Mason Foley (R)$405,548 [d] $391,822$13,726
Jason Knight (R)$41,865 [e] $36,093$5,772
Joe Leurs (R)$6,604$17,747$0
Stewart Parks (R)$362,210 [f] $358,595$3,615
Matthew Van Epps (R)$992,716$761,549$231,167
Lee Reeves (R)$578,854 [g] $550,388$28,466
Source: Federal Election Commission [37]

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [h] 		Margin
of error		Jody
Barrett		Gino
Bulso		Lee
Reeves		Matt
Van Epps		OtherUndecided
Spry Strategies [38] [A] August 19–23, 2025500 (LV)± 4.4%10%9%8%7%8% [i] 58%

Results

Results by county .mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{} Van Epps 30-40% 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% Barrett 50-60% 2025 Tennessee's 7th congressional district special republican primary election.svg
Results by county
  Van Epps
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  Barrett
  •   50–60%

Matt Van Epps won twelve of the fourteen counties, while Jody Barrett won the two counties he represents in the Tennessee State House, Dickson and Hickman.

Republican primary results [39]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Matt Van Epps 19,006 51.56%
Republican Jody Barrett 9,33725.33%
Republican Gino Bulso 4,00510.86%
Republican Lee Reeves (withdrawn)1,9295.23%
Republican Mason Foley1,0222.77%
Republican Stewart Parks5951.61%
Republican Jason Knight3811.03%
Republican Stuart Cooper2390.65%
Republican Tres Wittum1330.36%
Republican Joe Leurs1220.33%
Republican Adolph Dagan930.25%
Total votes36,862 100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Declined

Endorsements

Vincent Dixie
State legislators
Organizations
Bo Mitchell
U.S. representatives
State legislators
Local officials
Labor unions

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of November 12, 2025
CandidateRaisedSpentCash on hand
Aftyn Behn (D)$1,230,629$708,892$521,737
Darden Copeland (D)$591,675 [j] $483,889$107,786
Vincent Dixie (D)$161,609$145,924$15,685
Bo Mitchell (D)$228,777$198,633$30,144
Source: Federal Election Commission [37]

Results

Results by county Behn 30-40% Copeland 30-40% 40-50% 50-60% Mitchell 30-40% 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% Dixie 30-40% 2025 Tennessee's 7th congressional district special democratic primary election.svg
Results by county
  Behn
  •   30–40%
  Copeland
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  Mitchell
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  Dixie
  •   30–40%

Aftyn Behn narrowly won, carrying only one county, Williamson County, by a slim margin. However, she performed well in the more populous Montgomery and Davidson counties, which helped secure her victory. Darden Copeland and Bo Mitchell each carried six counties, while Vincent Dixie won Davidson.

Democratic primary results [46]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Aftyn Behn 8,653 27.89%
Democratic Darden Copeland7,72024.88%
Democratic Bo Mitchell 7,49824.17%
Democratic Vincent Dixie 7,15323.06%
Total votes31,024 100.00%

Independents

Candidates

Declared

  • Terri Christie, boat captain [47]
  • Bobby Dodge [14]
  • Robert James Sutherby [14]
  • Jon Thorp, commercial helicopter pilot (previously ran as a Republican) [48]

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of September 30, 2025
CandidateRaisedSpentCash on hand
Jon Thorp (I)$7,392$7,332$60
Source: Federal Election Commission [37]

General election

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
Inside Elections [49] Lean RNovember 20, 2025
The Cook Political Report [50] Likely RNovember 13, 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball [51] Likely RJuly 10, 2025

Endorsements

Matt Van Epps (R)
U.S. representatives
State legislators
Individuals
Organizations

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [h] 		Margin
of error		Matt
Van Epps (R)		Aftyn
Behn (D)		OtherUndecided
Emerson College [70] [B] November 22–24, 2025600 (LV)± 3.9%48%46%2% [k] 5%
49% [l] 47%4% [m] –
Impact Research (D) [71] [C] October 16–19, 2025700 (LV)± 3.7%52%44%1% [n] 3%
Workbench Strategy (D) [72] [D] October 15–19, 2025400 (LV)± 5.7%51%41%7% [o] 1%
52% [p] 44%4% [q]

Results

2025 Tennessee's 7th congressional district special election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Matt Van Epps
Democratic Aftyn Behn
Independent Terri ChristieN/A
Independent Bobby DodgeN/A
Independent Robert James SutherbyN/A
Independent Jon ThorpN/A
Total votesN/A

By county

CountyMatt Van Epps
Republican		Aftyn Behn
Democratic		Various candidates
Independent		MarginTotal votes cast
#%#%#%#%
Benton (part)
Cheatham
Davidson (part)
Decatur
Dickson
Hickman
Houston
Humphreys
Montgomery
Perry
Robertson
Stewart
Wayne
Williamson (part)
Totals

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Glenn Jacobs endorsed Matt Van Epps after Lee Reeves, whom he had originally endorsed, dropped out.
  2. ↑ $693,973 of this total was self-funded by Bulso
  3. ↑ $1,995 of this total was self-funded by Cooper
  4. ↑ $325,000 of this total was self-funded by Foley
  5. ↑ $20,000 of this total was self-funded by Knight
  6. ↑ $67,167 of this total was self-funded by Parks
  7. ↑ $300,000 of this total was self-funded by Reeves
  8. 1 2 Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  9. ↑ Knight with 3%; Wittum with 2%; Cooper, Dagan, and Parks with 1%; Foley and Leurs with 0%
  10. ↑ $100,000 of this total was self-funded by Copeland
  11. ↑ Thorp with 1%, Christie with 1%, Dodge and Sutherby with <1%
  12. ↑ With voters who lean towards a given candidate
  13. ↑ Thorp with 2%, Christie with 1%, Dodge with 1%, Sutherby with <1%
  14. ↑ Thorp (I) with 1%
  15. ↑ "Independent candidates" with 7%
  16. ↑ With voters who lean towards a given candidate
  17. ↑ "Would Not Vote/Undecided/Don't Know" with 4%
Partisan clients
  1. ↑ This poll was sponsored by Americans for Prosperity Tennessee
  2. ↑ Poll sponsored by Nexstar Media Group
  3. ↑ This poll was sponsored by Your Community PAC
  4. ↑ This poll was sponsored by Behn's campaign

References

  1. ↑ "Secretary of State Tre Hargett Provides Timeline for Seventh Congressional District Special Election". sos.tn.gov. Tennessee Secretary of State. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Rep. Mark Green Retires from the U.S. House of Representatives". June 9, 2025. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  3. ↑ Masters, Hamilton Matthew (June 9, 2025). "Rep. Mark Green Announces Resignation". Nashville Scene . Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  4. ↑ Alexandra Koch, Chad Pergram (July 3, 2025). "Congressman's last day in office revealed after vote on Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill'". Fox News. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Tennessee Seventh Congressional District Election Results". The New York Times. October 7, 2025. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Early Voting Locations and Hours". Tennessee Secretary of State. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  7. ↑ Morris, Nick (July 8, 2025). "A Deep Dive into Tennessee's 7th Congressional District". Elections Daily. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  8. ↑ Morris, Nick (July 8, 2025). "A Deep Dive into Tennessee's 7th Congressional District". Elections Daily. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Tennessee House District 7 Election 2024 Live Results". www.nbcnews.com. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  10. ↑ "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)". Cook Political Report. April 3, 2025. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  11. ↑ Schelzig, Erik (June 10, 2025). "Van Epps announces bid for Green seat in Congress, steps down from Lee Cabinet". State Affairs. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  12. 1 2 Rau, Nate (July 7, 2025). "Race to replace Rep. Mark Green gets crowded quickly". Axios . Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  13. ↑ Masters, Hamilton Matthew (July 28, 2025). "State Rep. Gino Bulso Launches 7th Congressional District Bid". Nashville Scene . Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Reeves, Cheri (August 12, 2025). "Candidates qualify for 7th Congressional District special election". Main Street Media of Tennessee. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Mason Foley - Previously held position: Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) (Jan. 2020-Jan. 2022), Legislative Correspondent - Biography | LegiStorm". www.legistorm.com. Retrieved August 16, 2025. Mason Foley Previously held position Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) (Jan. 2020-Jan. 2022), Legislative Correspondent
  16. ↑ Smith, Chris (June 11, 2025). "Who's running so far to replace Congressman Mark Green: 3 Republican military veterans step up" . Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  17. 1 2 3 Stockard, Sam (July 15, 2025). "Congressional candidates dropping, adding in Tennessee District 7 race". Tennessee Lookout. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  18. 1 2 Housler, Kaitlin (August 14, 2025). "Gino Bulso's Campaign for TN-7 Endorsed by State Rep. Jay Reedy". The Tennessee Star . Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  19. 1 2 3 Vivian Jones (October 3, 2025). "Donald Trump endorses Matt Van Epps in 7th District special congressional race, Reeves out". USA Today . Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  20. ↑ Smith, Chris (July 9, 2025). "2 more state legislators step up to run for Mark Green's seat in Congress". Clarksville Now. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
  21. 1 2 Schelzig, Erik (July 14, 2025). "Green endorses Van Epps for 7th District seat, Maberry backs fellow state Rep. Reeves". State Affairs. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  22. ↑ Schelzig, Erik (August 13, 2025). "Six state representatives join 7th Congressional District race". State Affairs. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  23. ↑ Smith, Chris (June 18, 2025). "State Sen. Bill Powers decides not to run to replace Mark Green in Congress". Clarksville Now. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Jones, Vivian (October 1, 2025). "Lee, Green endorse Van Epps in 7th District GOP primary, Green's ex-wife backs Barrett" . Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  25. ↑ Nir, David; Singer, Jeff (September 4, 2025). "Morning Digest: Suddenly, Maine has a three-way Senate primary" . Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Mark Green endorses Matt Van Epps in Tennessee race". WXMI . Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  27. ↑ "Congressmember Jim Jordan backs Matt Van Epps in TN District 7 race". Axios . Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  28. 1 2 Housler, Kaitlin (October 3, 2025). "Club for Growth PAC Endorses Matt Van Epps in TN-7 Primary". The Tennessee Star . Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  29. ↑ Heavey, Deirdre (September 30, 2025). "Tennessee governor backs military veteran just days before crowded primary election". Fox News . Retrieved September 30, 2025.
  30. ↑ Campaign, Matt Van Epps. "Matt Van Epps for Congress - West Point Graduate & Combat Veteran". Matt Van Epps for Congress. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  31. ↑ "Montgomery County Commissioner Michael Lankford Endorses Matt Van Epps for Congress". Clarksville Online. August 28, 2025. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  32. ↑ "Endorsed Candidates". With Honor Fund III. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  33. 1 2 Housler, Kaitlin (August 15, 2025). "TN-7 Candidate Lee Reeves Touts Support from GOP Elected Officials". The Tennessee Star . Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  34. 1 2 "Lee Reeves Picks Up Notable Endorsements from Tennessee Republican Leaders". Tennessee Star . Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  35. ↑ Reports, Herald (July 17, 2025). "All 7 mayors in Williamson County endorse Lee Reeves for Congress". Williamson Herald. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  36. ↑ Housler, Kaitlin (September 8, 2025). "GOPAC Election Fund Endorses TN-7 Candidate Lee Reeves". Tennessee Star. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  37. 1 2 3 "2026 Election United States House – Tennessee 7th". Federal Election Commission . Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  38. ↑ McCall, J. Holly (August 26, 2025). "Poll shows dead heat between top four Republicans in Tennessee special congressional election". Tennessee Lookout . Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  39. ↑ "United States House of Representatives District 7 Republican Primary" (PDF). elections.tn.gov. October 8, 2025. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  40. 1 2 Stockard, Sam (June 12, 2025). "More candidates enter field to replace Green in Tennessee's 7th District". Tennessee Lookout . Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  41. ↑ Rau, Nate (July 7, 2025). "Race to replace Rep. Mark Green gets crowded quickly". Axios . Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  42. ↑ Schmitt, Brad (July 9, 2025). "Ex-Nashville Mayor Megan Barry won't run for TN seat US Rep. Mark Green is vacating". The Tennessean . Retrieved July 11, 2025.
  43. ↑ Friedman, Adam (September 10, 2025). "Democrats spar over electability at Tennessee Congressional District 7 forum". Tennessee Lookout . Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  44. ↑ "September (2025) Knoxille DSA Monthly Meeting". actionnetwork.org. Action Network. Retrieved November 16, 2025. We'll also discuss how to support our Memphis comrades during the National Guard occupation, and helping with Rep Aftyn Behn's special election campaign.
  45. ↑ "PDA Endorses Aftyn Behn for Congress in the special election for Tennessee's 7th District". pdamerica.org. Progressive Democrats of America. September 12, 2025. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  46. ↑ "United States House of Representatives District 7 Democratic Primary" (PDF). elections.tn.gov. October 8, 2025. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  47. ↑ Reeves, Cheri (August 12, 2025). "Candidates qualify for 7th Congressional District special election". Main Street Media of Tennessee. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  48. ↑ Reeves, Cheri (August 12, 2025). "Candidates qualify for 7th Congressional District special election". Main Street Media of Tennessee. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  49. ↑ NE, Inside Elections 609 H. Street; Washington, 4th Floor. "House Ratings". insideelections.com. Retrieved November 22, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  50. ↑ Klein, Matthew (November 13, 2025). "Music City Mayhem". The Cook Political Report . Retrieved November 14, 2025.
  51. ↑ Miles Coleman, J. (July 10, 2025). "Notes on the State of Politics: Nebraska Senate, Upcoming Special Elections". Sabato's Crystal Ball . Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  52. ↑ Pappert, Tom (October 9, 2025). "Congressman Tim Burchett Urges Republicans to 'Wake Up' After High Democrat Turnout Leads to Nomination of 'AOC of Tennessee' in TN-7". The Tennessee Star. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
  53. ↑ Jones, Vivian (November 8, 2025). "Democrats make final push to flip 7th District, 'Tennessee loves a longshot'". The Tennessean . Retrieved November 14, 2025.
  54. ↑ Stockard, Sam (November 14, 2025). "Behn, Van Epps go full tilt in Tennessee congressional race • Tennessee Lookout". Tennessee Lookout. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  55. ↑ Housler, Kaitlin (November 25, 2025). "RNC Chair Urges TN-7 Republicans to Lock In Early Votes Before Wednesday Deadline". Tennessee Star. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  56. ↑ Hazard, Charlotte (November 26, 2025). "Kid Rock, Trump endorse Matt Van Epps for Congress to replace Green in special election". KFOX. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  57. ↑ "Tennessee Small Businesses Endorse Matt Van Epps for Special Election to Congress". November 14, 2025. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
  58. 1 2 Stockard, Sam (November 14, 2025). "Stockard on the Stump: Behn, Van Epps go full tilt in Tennessee congressional race". Tennessee Lookout . Retrieved November 14, 2025.
  59. 1 2 3 "Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC Endorses Aftyn Behn For TN-07". November 5, 2025. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
  60. ↑ Heavey, Deirdre (November 17, 2025). "David Hogg campaigns for the 'AOC of Tennessee' to flip ruby-red district as special election looms". Fox News . Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  61. ↑ Lebowitz, Megan (November 7, 2025). "DNC chair to campaign for the Democrat running in deep red Tennessee House special election". NBC News . Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  62. ↑ Stockard, Sam (October 22, 2025). "Behn works to counter Trump endorsement of Van Epps in Tennessee's Congressional District 7". Tennessee Lookout . Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  63. ↑ "Elect Democratic Women Endorses Aftyn Behn in Tennessee's 7th Congressional District Special Election and Congratulates her on a Decisive Victory". electdemocraticwomen.org. October 7, 2025. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  64. ↑ "End Citizens United Endorses State Representative Aftyn Behn for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District". endcitizensunited.org. November 10, 2025. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  65. ↑ "JanePAC is proud to endorse Aftyn Behn for TN-7!". JanePAC on Facebook. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  66. ↑ "Endorsed Candidates National Women's Political Caucus". National Women's Political Caucus. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  67. ↑ "SUFS Supports Aftyn Behn for TN-07". STAND UP FOR SCIENCE. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  68. ↑ "Elections and Endorsements". Peoples for the American Way. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  69. ↑ "Working Families Party endorses Aftyn Behn for Congress". Nashville Banner . November 18, 2025. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  70. ↑ "Tennessee 7th District 2025 Special Election Poll: Republican Van Epps and Democrat Behn Locked In Tight Race". Emerson College Polling. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  71. ↑ "Findings from TN CD-07 Special Election Assessment". October 31, 2025. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  72. ↑ Hagner, John (October 23, 2025). "Special Election Survey for Aftyn Behn in Tennessee's 7th Congressional District" (PDF). Workbench Strategy. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
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