Trump-backed Van Epps to face progressive Behn for U.S. House seat in Tennessee

Matt Van Epps, the decorated military veteran who earned the endorsement of President Trump, won the competitive U.S. House District 7 Republican primary to replace Rep. Mark Green.Van Epps will face Democratic winner state Rep. Aftyn Behn, a grassroots activist and progressive darling, in the Dec. 2 special election to complete Green's term. The AP called the races for Van Epps and Behn on Tuesday night.Why it matters: The general election figures to attract national attention as a measuring stick for Trump's popularity. Democrats in other special elections this year have improved on their margins from 2024.Zoom in: Van Epps overcame the challenges of being a first-time candidate with low name recognition by rolling out the big guns in terms of endorsements in the later stages of the primary.After Trump endorsed him last week, fellow candidate Lee Reeves said he was bowing out of the race and encouraged his supporters to vote for Van Epps.Gov. Bill Lee and powerful conservative U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan also backed Van Epps, who touted his military service during the campaign.Van Epps is a West Point graduate, who served as a combat helicopter pilot. More recently, he served as a lieutenant colonel in the National Guard. He was also the head of the state Department of General Services under Lee.The other side: Behn worked as a health care advocate and grassroots activist before winning her state House seat in 2023. She was a vocal proponent for gun control following The Covenant School shooting.In the legislature, she's focused on pocketbook issues, including pushing to end the state grocery tax.The intrigue: Democrats view the special election as a golden opportunity to flip the seat following Green's surprising retirement announcement over the summer.Special elections lead to lower turnout. Combined with turmoil in Washington D.C., Democrats are hoping to turn the race into a political sprint that leads to an upset in December.District 7 spans 14 counties, including a large section of Davidson County.What's next: Van Epps and Behn will face off in the special election on Dec. 2.