NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Republican Matt Van Epps won Tennessee's 7th Congressional District special election Tuesday night, defeating Democrat Aftyn Behn by 9 percentage points in a race that drew national media attention to Nashville.

While Van Epps secured victory in the Republican-designed district, his margin was notably smaller than typical GOP wins in the area. President Donald Trump carried the same district by 22 points just last year, making Van Epps' victory a closer contest than many expected. "What a night, what a night," Van Epps said Tuesday evening. "It's a resounding win and I'm really excited about it."

The congressman-elect expressed confidence about future elections, saying the campaign would "take this momentum forward and we're going to win in 2026, we're going to

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