6 Things to Watch Ahead of Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District Special Election

Americans across the country are keeping a close eye on the special election for Tennessee’s Seventh Congressional District seat on Dec. 2. after Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.) retired to take a job in the private sector.

Democrats are hoping to flip the seat long held by Republicans and narrow the GOP’s already slim majority in the U.S. House—which could provide a temperature check of where voters in the South are ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Who Are the Candidates?

More than a handful of candidates are vying to head to Washington to represent 14 counties in Middle Tennessee, which include the tourist section of downtown Nashville and wealthy suburbs in Williamson County.

Republican Matt Van Epps, a former state commissioner and Army helicopter pilot, and Democrat Aftyn Behn, the state representative for District 51, are leading the polls in a neck-and-neck race.

The four independent candidates are vessel captain Teresa “Terri” Christie, combat pilot Jon Thorp, small business owner Bobby Dodge, and pastor Robert James Sutherby.

Impact on the US House

The 119th Congress has 219 Republicans, 213 Democrats, and three vacancies.

The GOP’s majority is already set to drop to 218 Republicans when Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) exits on Jan. 5, 2026.

Republicans have held Tennessee’s Seventh Congressional District for decades, and a loss in the historically red district could show a shift in the South and shrink the Republicans’ already slim majority in the U.S. House.

A win for Behn would help the Democrats continue their momentum beyond the recent victories in gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey and may hint at a blue wave next year.

Who Has Endorsed the Candidates?

Epps and Behn have each had a flood of endorsements and visits from high-profile politicians.

Epps has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio).

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.), Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Lee are scheduled to speak at Republicans’ “Get Out The Vote” rally on Dec. 1.

Behn has had campaign visits from former Vice President Kamala Harris and Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin.

What Do Polls Show?

Epps has a slight lead over Behn, according to a recent Emerson College Polling/The Hill survey released on Nov. 26.

The poll, conducted Nov. 22–24, showed 48 percent of voters in the district supporting Epps while 46 percent of voters were backing Behn.

Five percent of voters in the district were still undecided, and the remaining 2 percent planned to vote for other candidates.

Fundraising

Millions of dollars have poured into this high-stakes election.

Epps raised $992,715 between April 1 and Nov. 12, and his campaign has spent more than $757,293, according to data from the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

Behn raised $1.2 million between July 1, 2025, and Nov. 12, 2025, FEC data show.

MAGA Inc., a super PAC known for supporting Trump, has spent about $1 million to support the Epps campaign.

The House Majority PAC, known for backing Democratic candidates, planned on spending $1 million on digital and television ads in the race.

When Is Election Day?

Election Day is Dec. 2 in Tennessee.

Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT.

More than 43,000 voters already submitted their ballots during early voting, according to the Tennessee Division of Elections.

Epps and Behn are each hosting Election Day watch parties starting at 7 p.m.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.