Nashville’s blockbuster special election ended on Dec. 2, when Republican Matt Van Epps fended off a challenge from Democratic state Rep. Aftyn Behn — but every even-numbered year brings a fresh campaign season in Tennessee’s nine congressional districts.
New year-end reports show that Behn stashed $465,000 of the $3.3 million in her failed bid to replace outgoing conservative U.S. Rep. Mark Green in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, leaving the East Nashville politician poised for a follow-up campaign in the 2026 midterms. Van Epps, who won his seat with the help of millions in outside spending from national conservative committees, spent his campaign funds nearly to zero by Election Day. The Republican reported just $45,000 in cash on hand as of Dec. 22, nearly all of which came from special-interest PACs during or after his Election Day win.
Nashville briefly gets the battleground spotlight as GOP money machine safeguards against an upset in Tennessee's 7th
National dollars and media attention flocked to Middle Tennessee in the lead-up to the Dec. 2 special election, which became a temperature check for Trump’s policies nearly a year into his second presidential term. Republicans control the U.S. Senate and White House and enjoy a slim majority in the House of Representatives, making every seat a potential threat to the party’s D.C. power monopoly. Behn raised millions with the national spotlight and has positioned herself to take another shot at Congress. Her 9 percentage point loss was a dramatic improvement for Democrats in a district redrawn in 2022 by GOP state legislators.Â
Behn recently told the Scene that she’s unreachable for comment until Jan. 9. Her campaign finance reports also drew four alerts from the FEC on Dec. 21 for exceeding donor limits and certain apparent bookkeeping errors.
In September, Democratic Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder announced a challenge to scandal-ridden U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles in Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District. But two other seats that include parts of Nashville — the 7th and the 6th — could be in play for Behn. She made substantial inroads this fall as a candidate in the former; the latter includes her East Nashville residence and much of her current state House district, and will likely be left without an incumbent as Republican U.S. Rep. John Rose aims for the governor’s mansion.Â
