MAGA Muscle Saves GOP Seat—But Dems Rattle Republicans in Tennessee

Paul Riverbank, 12/3/2025 Republican Matt Van Epps narrowly held Tennessee’s 7th District in a high-stakes race, signaling tighter margins even in strongholds. Heavy spending and national surrogates fueled a spirited contest, offering both parties insights—and new stakes—as they eye the 2024 political landscape.

Van Epps, a decorated military veteran and one-time general services commissioner for Tennessee, leaned heavily on his connection with Donald Trump from the campaign’s opening bell. “This is President Trump’s party. I’m proud to be a part of it and can’t wait to get to work,” he shouted over the din of supporters and country hits at his victory gathering. There was no sense of ambiguity—his pledge to stand “all-in” with Trump in Washington was at the core of his stump speech, not a footnote.

But this wasn’t the rout many expected for the GOP in a district that, after a 2022 redrawing, had seemed almost tailor-made for Republican dominance. The numbers told a different story after all the precincts submitted their counts. Van Epps held a lead, but it hovered stubbornly in the high single digits— a sharp contraction from the comfortable 21-point margin his predecessor, Mark Green, posted just last year. No one on either side failed to notice.

His opponent, Aftyn Behn—a Democratic state lawmaker and social worker—mounted the kind of campaign many strategists said would be a mere formality. Instead, Behn’s operation jolted to life in Nashville’s Davidson County, where her message about kitchen-table economics and affordability found eager ears. She strolled between gatherings of neighborhood volunteers, sometimes with music trailing behind. “It's about making Nashville, and Tennessee, livable for the people who already call it home,” she’d say, nodding to the swelling cost of living and tourist crowds.

Even those who watched Tennessee politics up close had to admit: this was a race that drew blood and well-heeled attention. National figures crowded into the fight. MAGA Inc., the super PAC with the president’s stamp, unloaded nearly $1.7 million on Van Epps—an eye-popping figure, reserved in past cycles mostly for presidential fights, not down-ballot races. Republicans seemed intent on making a point: whatever the momentary drags on Trump’s approval, red territory was to remain just that.

Yet Democrats brought their own firepower. House Majority PAC wrote Behn a $1 million check, and national party chair Ken Martin swapped coasts to campaign by her side. The Democratic cavalry arrived in digital spirit—Al Gore appeared on live streams; Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made a virtual pitch. Even Vice President Harris swept through Nashville, helping stir up the on-the-ground effort.

In some ways, though, the real contest swirled around economic anxieties. Behn hammered Van Epps on Trump’s tariffs and tax moves—policies she argued punished local businesses and working families. Republicans, meanwhile, circled back to familiar scripts—using Behn’s remarks about tourist traffic and city frustrations to paint her as out-of-step with district values.

Voters, for their part, absorbed the noise, the advertisements, and the precinct visits. Take Anthony Bordonaro, a 37-year-old who stopped on his way home to talk: “I backed Van Epps, mostly because of Trump. But I kept hearing the Behn clips about Nashville—didn’t sit right with me,” he shrugged.

Once the ballots were counted, Behn remained upbeat despite falling short. She belted out “9 to 5” on a makeshift stage and reminded supporters, “Nobody in Washington thought we’d come this close. Tonight isn’t the end—it’s just another chapter for Tennessee.” That mix of optimism and challenge hung in the air. The fact remained, the district had been redrawn to favor Republicans, fracturing Nashville’s solid blue vote across multiple seats. Still, about one in five local voters called the city home, and Behn’s numbers there offered a cautionary tale for complacent party strategists.

National Democrats worked to spin the story forward—Ken Martin framed the outcome as evidence that Democrats can play offense, even where the map once said otherwise. Meanwhile, Republicans pointed to the scoreboard. As far as control of the seat goes, the GOP’s grip holds. But the ground underneath, for now at least, looks shakier than the party might have wished.

In the churn of this high-profile race, both sides found cause for declaration. For the GOP, Van Epps stands ready to amplify Trump’s agenda in Congress. For Democrats, a narrowing margin in unfriendly territory stirs hope—and perhaps a new blueprint for organizing in the South as 2025 draws nearer.

On a brisk Tuesday that capped off a long holiday weekend, voters in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District made a statement that, while perhaps not thunderous, certainly carried a charge: Republican Matt Van Epps is headed to Congress, but just under the wire.Van Epps, a decorated military veteran and one-time general services commissioner for Tennessee, leaned heavily on his connection with Donald Trump from the campaign’s opening bell. “This is President Trump’s party. I’m proud to be a part of it and can’t wait to get to work,” he shouted over the din of supporters and country hits at his victory gathering. There was no sense of ambiguity—his pledge to stand “all-in” with Trump in Washington was at the core of his stump speech, not a footnote.But this wasn’t the rout many expected for the GOP in a district that, after a 2022 redrawing, had seemed almost tailor-made for Republican dominance. The numbers told a different story after all the precincts submitted their counts. Van Epps held a lead, but it hovered stubbornly in the high single digits— a sharp contraction from the comfortable 21-point margin his predecessor, Mark Green, posted just last year. No one on either side failed to notice.His opponent, Aftyn Behn—a Democratic state lawmaker and social worker—mounted the kind of campaign many strategists said would be a mere formality. Instead, Behn’s operation jolted to life in Nashville’s Davidson County, where her message about kitchen-table economics and affordability found eager ears. She strolled between gatherings of neighborhood volunteers, sometimes with music trailing behind. “It's about making Nashville, and Tennessee, livable for the people who already call it home,” she’d say, nodding to the swelling cost of living and tourist crowds.Even those who watched Tennessee politics up close had to admit: this was a race that drew blood and well-heeled attention. National figures crowded into the fight. MAGA Inc., the super PAC with the president’s stamp, unloaded nearly $1.7 million on Van Epps—an eye-popping figure, reserved in past cycles mostly for presidential fights, not down-ballot races. Republicans seemed intent on making a point: whatever the momentary drags on Trump’s approval, red territory was to remain just that.Yet Democrats brought their own firepower. House Majority PAC wrote Behn a $1 million check, and national party chair Ken Martin swapped coasts to campaign by her side. The Democratic cavalry arrived in digital spirit—Al Gore appeared on live streams; Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made a virtual pitch. Even Vice President Harris swept through Nashville, helping stir up the on-the-ground effort.In some ways, though, the real contest swirled around economic anxieties. Behn hammered Van Epps on Trump’s tariffs and tax moves—policies she argued punished local businesses and working families. Republicans, meanwhile, circled back to familiar scripts—using Behn’s remarks about tourist traffic and city frustrations to paint her as out-of-step with district values.Voters, for their part, absorbed the noise, the advertisements, and the precinct visits. Take Anthony Bordonaro, a 37-year-old who stopped on his way home to talk: “I backed Van Epps, mostly because of Trump. But I kept hearing the Behn clips about Nashville—didn’t sit right with me,” he shrugged.Once the ballots were counted, Behn remained upbeat despite falling short. She belted out “9 to 5” on a makeshift stage and reminded supporters, “Nobody in Washington thought we’d come this close. Tonight isn’t the end—it’s just another chapter for Tennessee.” That mix of optimism and challenge hung in the air. The fact remained, the district had been redrawn to favor Republicans, fracturing Nashville’s solid blue vote across multiple seats. Still, about one in five local voters called the city home, and Behn’s numbers there offered a cautionary tale for complacent party strategists.National Democrats worked to spin the story forward—Ken Martin framed the outcome as evidence that Democrats can play offense, even where the map once said otherwise. Meanwhile, Republicans pointed to the scoreboard. As far as control of the seat goes, the GOP’s grip holds. But the ground underneath, for now at least, looks shakier than the party might have wished.In the churn of this high-profile race, both sides found cause for declaration. For the GOP, Van Epps stands ready to amplify Trump’s agenda in Congress. For Democrats, a narrowing margin in unfriendly territory stirs hope—and perhaps a new blueprint for organizing in the South as 2025 draws nearer.