Republican candidate Matt Van Epps’s victory in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District special election prompted celebrations from his Republican colleagues in his state, Congress, and the White House.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) offered a warm welcome to Van Epps on X. Last month, Blackburn offered a lukewarm prediction that Van Epps would win.
RACE CALLED! Congratulations to my friend @MattforTN on his victory tonight in the TN-7 Special Election!
Tonight, Tennessee rejected Democrats’ radical beliefs and showed the nation why we’re the best state to live, work, and rear a family.
I can’t wait to work with… pic.twitter.com/YhBIqXZfSd
— Marsha Blackburn (@VoteMarsha) December 3, 2025
Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) noted on X that the race was “hard-fought” against Democratic candidate Aftyn Behn.
Congratulations to @MattforTN on a hard-fought victory and to every Tennessean who stood up to keep the 7th red! Matt will bring a new passion and grit to our delegation, and I’m excited to keep up the fight for Tennesseans with your new Congressman. pic.twitter.com/s1nhD6bD2c
— Bill Hagerty (@BillHagertyTN) December 3, 2025
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN), who expressed concern about voter turnout on Election Day, congratulated Van Epps late Tuesday. According to Burchett, President Donald Trump deserved credit.
Trump endorsed Van Epps and also encouraged Tennesseans to vote on Tuesday. By late Tuesday, the president was celebrating “another great night for the Republican Party.”
Activist Riley Gaines blamed Behn’s comments about Nashville, Tennessee, for her loss.
Maybe don’t unashamedly say you hate the city you’re running to represent and the very people you’re courting as constituents.
Congrats to @MattForTN!
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) December 3, 2025
An Emerson College-The Hill poll found that 48% of voters support Van Epps and 46% support Behn in the Tennessee special election. However, the president’s son, Donald Trump Jr., said on X Wednesday that betting markets were more accurate than the polls.
The prediction markets were right again! They’re democratizing truth and cutting out the nonsense and pay for play fake polling designed to set a narrative. https://t.co/mlFH91kUl9
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) December 3, 2025
POLLS OVERSOLD DEMOCRATS’ CHANCES IN TENNESSEE SPECIAL ELECTION BUT PARTY STILL SEES HOPE IN RESULTS
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich also bemoaned the inaccuracy of polls on X Wednesday.
The Republican win by almost ten per cent in the tennessee special election must have been a huge disappointment to all the Trump haters. They are desperate for signs the Trump coalition is collapsing. Matt Van Epps victory is s good reminder that hard working smart candidates…
— Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) December 3, 2025
Van Epps won the seat of former Rep. Mark Green, who left Congress in June. Green, a Republican, won his general election with nearly 60% of the vote, and Trump won the district by over 22 points. In the end, Van Epps had a roughly 9% lead with 99% of votes counted as of Wednesday afternoon, per the Associated Press.