TL;DR

The December 2025 Tennessee 7th special election ended with a Republican hold as AP projected Matt Van Epps the winner. Near-complete returns hovered around 53.9% to 45%, and outside groups poured in millions. Certification is next, and the new member will be sworn in to fill the vacancy.

December 2025 Tennessee 7th special election: results at a glance

Here’s the twist: the December 2025 Tennessee 7th special election finished with Van Epps ahead as the Associated Press called the race. AP reported roughly a nine-point edge with 99% reporting, while near-final tallies showed about 53.9% to 45% and Aftyn Behn results near 45%.

You might be surprised that the margin tightened compared with the district’s recent presidential spread. Across outlets, Matt Van Epps wins quickly became the storyline as late precincts reported.

Timeline: December 2025 Tennessee 7th special election

The Mark Green resignation in July 2025 triggered the vacancy and set the timeline. Voting culminated on Dec. 2, when the AP projected the race for Van Epps as counts neared completion, and The Guardian recorded an evening call time.

By night’s end, Matt Van Epps wins flashed across tickers and live blogs. As totals firmed, multiple outlets aligned on the 53.9% to 45% split and the AP projection.

District profile: TN-7’s Republican tilt

TN-7 is reliably red, Donald Trump carried the district by about 22 points in 2024, according to available reports. Therefore, expectations for the Tennessee 7th district special election favored the GOP from the start.

Still, Aftyn Behn results near 45% underscore a narrower gap than the presidential margin. As Politico noted, Democrats overperformed relative to the district’s baseline in this Tennessee 7th district special election.

National attention and spending in TN-7

Follow the money: MAGA Inc spending reemerged in force, backing Van Epps with about $1.7 million, according to AP. Meanwhile, House Majority PAC put roughly $1 million behind Behn, and national Republicans, Donald Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson among them, leaned in.

Moreover, MAGA Inc spending helped define the air war in the closing stretch. The contest drew outsized national attention for a single House seat, amplifying every message and every ad buy.

What’s next for Tennessee’s 7th District

After county canvasses and certification, the winner will be sworn in to fill the vacant U.S. House seat. The Mark Green resignation created this opening, and the certification will conclude the December 2025 Tennessee 7th special election process and seat the district’s new representative.