Republican Matt Van Epps scored a closely watched win Tuesday over Democratic state Rep. Aftyn Behn in a special congressional election in Tennessee.
With 95% of the vote in, Mr. Van Epps had a 53.9% to 45.1% lead, and multiple networks called the race for the Republican more than an hour after the polls closed.
“Tonight you sent a message loud and clear: the people of middle Tennessee stand with President Donald J. Trump,” Mr. Van Epps said at his election night party.
Mr. Van Epps also said his victory proved that “running from Trump is how you lose, running with Trump is how you win.”
Mr. Trump congratulated Mr. Van Epps, a West Point graduate who ran with the president’s blessing as a MAGA conservative, on his “big” win.
“The Radical Left Democrats threw everything at him, including millions of dollars,” Mr. Trump said on Truth Social. “Another great night for the Republican Party!!!”
The contest drew oversized national attention to what has been a reliably red area and provided this year’s final clues about the national mood heading into the 2026 midterms.
The victory offered Mr. Trump and Republicans a measure of relief after a string of off-year Democratic triumphs at the ballot box had stirred anxiety about the GOP’s prospects next year.
Party leaders hailed the result as evidence that their base remains energized in conservative strongholds and as a chance to reset as they prepare to defend their slim House majority in an election cycle that will go a long way toward determining the final two years of the Trump presidency.
Joe Gruters, chairman of the Republican National Committee, said that voters had rejected Ms. Behn’s “anti-Tennessee” agenda, as well as the “Democrats’ entire radical platform.”
“This win makes one thing clear: Voters want leaders who deliver for hardworking Americans, not far-left candidates who hate the very people they claim to represent,” Mr. Gruters said.
Mr. Van Epps, a former state commissioner, will replace former Republican Rep. Mark Green, who abruptly resigned from the seat over the summer to join the private sector.
Still, Democrats emerged with bragging rights of their own, insisting that the GOP’s margin of victory in the red district showed that the Democratic message — tapping into concerns about rising health care costs and overall affordability — is resonating beyond traditional blue enclaves.
“What happened tonight in Tennessee makes it clear: Democrats are on offense and Republicans are on the ropes,” said Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Committee. “Aftyn Behn’s overperformance in this Trump +22 district is historic and a flashing warning sign for Republicans heading into the midterms.”
The GOP’s bubbling fears about the national political climate had forced them to spend heavily in a district that Mr. Trump carried by a commanding 60%–38% margin over former Vice President Kamala Harris a year ago.
Before the race was called, Ms. Behn told CNN a closer-than-expected result portends well for Democrats next year.
In those races, she said, “you have Republicans who are in more competitive seats struggling with candidates who look a lot like me.”
Democratic strategists argued Ms. Behn’s ability to narrow the gap in such territory underscored the splintering of the Trump coalition and voter unease with the GOP.
While Mr. Van Epps’ win steadied GOP nerves, Democrats also are sure to insist the outcome showed their message – tapping into concerns about rising costs of health care and overall affordability – is resonating beyond traditional blue enclaves.
Outside groups spent more than $6.5 million on the race.
The pro-Trump MAGA Inc. spent nearly $1.7 million on the race. Your Community PAC, a liberal group, spent more than $735,000 against Mr. Van Epps.
The money poured into the race highlighted the national attention it received, with both parties and outside groups treating the contest as a proxy fight over Mr. Trump’s political strength when he is not on the ballot.
Mr. Trump also emerged with bragging rights after flexing his political muscle.
He endorsed Mr. Van Epps and also sang his praises during telephone rallies over the final hours of the campaign, warning voters that the whole world was watching the results.
On the flip side, Ms. Harris appeared at a get-out-the-vote rally on behalf of Ms. Behn.
Republicans were always considered the clear favorites, but Democrats held out hope that the enthusiasm they carried out of the November election could lead to an upset in Tennessee.
The election unfolded against a backdrop of weakening support for the president.
Gallup reported that Mr. Trump’s approval rating had fallen to 36% — the lowest of his second term — while 60% of voters disapproved of his performance. Even among Republicans, support has dipped to 84%, down from 93% in September.
That decline coincided with a bruising government shutdown and Mr. Trump’s contentious handling of the Justice Department’s release of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The president ultimately supported the release, but only after failing in his effort to block it, a reversal that fueled criticism from both allies and opponents.
