Who won the Tennessee special election? What the results mean for the Democrats and Republicans
Tennessee voters cast their ballots in a closely watched special election Tuesday. The outcome doesn’t bode well for the GOP’s chances in the 2026 Midterms.
Voters cast ballots in another US House special election on Tuesday. This time it was for the Seventh Congressional District in Tennessee.
The race has been closely watched to gauge voter sentiment ahead of the 2026 Midterms. While the district is considered staunchly Republican, going for Trump by 22 points in 2024, polling showed the race to be uncomfortably tight leading up to election day.
The Republican candidate, Matt Van Epps, pulled out a win in the end over Democrat Aftyn Behn. However, with 95% of the ballots counted, he only managed to beat her by nine points.
What the results mean for the Democrats and Republicans
The results from Tennessee won’t have the GOP breathing any signs of relief, quite the contrary. Politico reports that in the words of one House GOP leadership aide: “It was too close.”
The person’s sentiments were echoed by others in the party. One House Republican said that the close race is an indicator that “2026 is going to be a b**** of an election cycle.”
Furthermore, this is the fifth special election in 2025 where Democrats have over-performed by double digits. The party also had a surprisingly solid performance up and down the ballot across the country in the off-year elections held in November.
In the more near term, it spells trouble for Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson who has been struggled to maintain his tenuous control over his party members. With Trump tanking in the polls, he could start facing a more forceful rebellion as House GOP members try to hold onto their seats next year.
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