A trickle of GOP spending against Democrat Aftyn Behn turned into a flood on Tuesday evening as national Republicans cut checks to avoid another embarrassing election night.
Candidates emphasize party unity, push fundraising in weeks following crowded primary
Super PACs put more than $1 million behind conservative Matt Van Epps — Behn’s Republican opponent in the Dec. 2 special election for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District — in the past 48 hours, just days after Trump himself stumped for Van Epps at a virtual town hall.
Governors’ races in New Jersey and Virginia returned resounding victories for Democrats on Nov. 4; the same day, Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani won the New York City mayor’s race and challenged Trump directly in his victory speech. The Dec. 2 special election for the 7th Congressional District, vacated suddenly by incumbent Republican Mark Green just seven months after Green’s swearing-in, has become a central focus for national Republican groups hoping to avoid another bad election night.
Behn running within 10 or 15 percentage points of a victory could show lost ground for Republicans after Green comfortably defended the seat over former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry in 2024. In campaign texts sent this week, Behn calls the election an “8-point race” citing a “new poll.” Behn did not respond to the Scene’s request for more information on the poll.
The former vice president appeared in Hadley Park hours before her scheduled book event at the Ryman
MAGA Inc., a Trump-aligned super PAC with almost $200 million in cash, reported about $94,000 in spending for Van Epps in a Nov. 16 FEC filing. Two other PACs — Conservatives for American Excellence and Club for Growth Action — reported a combined $994,000 in spending on digital and TV ads on Nov. 18.
Attack ads targeting Behn make up a majority of groups’ outlays. Tennesseans can expect to see those on social media and during commercial breaks in coming weeks. All are classified as independent expenditures, meaning the PACs — funded by high-profile conservatives like Virginia James and hedge fund billionaire Paul Singer — do not coordinate directly with the Van Epps campaign.
During general election early voting, Nashvillians are turning out in roughly triple the numbers as the primary race earlier this fall, according to the Davidson County Election Commission. Pre-general election fundraising reports from Van Epps and Behn are expected on Nov. 20.
