With just one week to go until Election Day in the highly contested race for a vacant House seat in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, both Republicans and Democrats are pouring millions into the race as they prepare for what is shaping up to be a pivotal showdown for control of the House. The district, which President Donald Trump won by a commanding 22-point margin in the 2024 election, is now a battleground as Democrats, led by progressive candidate Aftyn Behn, push to chip away at the GOP’s razor-thin 219-213 majority. The race has drawn massive media coverage and financial investment, with both sides pouring resources into television ads, digital outreach, and grassroots mobilization to sway voters.
Republican-aligned groups, including MAGA Inc. and the Club for Growth, have spent millions to run attack ads and messaging against Democratic candidate Behn, who is seeking to position herself as a voice of the working class, emphasizing affordability, healthcare costs, and opposition to Trump’s policies. Meanwhile, the Democratic National Committee (DNC), along with House Majority PAC, has also poured millions into the race, with $1 million allocated to support Behn’s campaign. The intense spending reflects the high stakes of the race, as both parties are acutely aware that the outcome could shift the balance of power in Congress.
The race between Van Epps, a Trump-backed military veteran, and Behn, a state representative and former healthcare community organizer, has drawn national attention, with each candidate vying to capture the hearts of voters. Van Epps has emphasized his service and military background, positioning himself as a leader who will bring down costs and create jobs. In contrast, Behn, who has been dubbed the ‘AOC of Tennessee,’ has focused her campaign on affordability and healthcare issues, arguing that voters are frustrated with the cost of living and government inefficiency. Both candidates are leveraging their platforms to mobilize support, with Behn’s campaign highlighting her progressive credentials and Van Epps’ team framing him as a patriotic, pro-worker candidate.
However, the race is not just about policy—it is also a battleground for ideological control. The RNC has targeted Behn over her past comments about Nashville and her 2019 op-ed calling Tennessee a ‘racist state.’ Republican leaders argue that these statements reveal a lack of commitment to the district, while Behn’s campaign has defended her past remarks, calling them a reflection of her opposition to the status quo. The attacks have intensified in recent weeks, with the RNC and other conservative groups using social media to amplify their criticisms, even though the district’s overall voting patterns remain solidly GOP.
Despite the GOP’s strong position in the district, Democrats have expressed confidence in Behn’s ability to win, with DNC Chair Ken Martin stating that she has ‘an excellent shot to win.’ Nonetheless, political analysts like Vanderbilt University professor John Greer caution that the race is still wide open, with both sides seeing potential for a close contest. With early voting surging and the campaign entering its final stretch, the stakes have never been higher, and the outcome of this race could have significant implications for the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives.