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2025 Tennessee's 7th congressional district special election

Updated: Wikipedia source

2025 Tennessee's 7th congressional district special election

The 2025 Tennessee's 7th congressional district special election was held on December 2, 2025, to fill the vacant seat in Tennessee's 7th congressional district. The deadline for entering the special election was on October 7, 2025. Republican Matt Van Epps defeated Democratic nominee Aftyn Behn in the general election, and will serve in the United States House of Representatives for the remainder of the 119th United States Congress, which will end on January 3, 2027. The seat became vacant on July 20, 2025, following the resignation of Republican Mark Green, who took a private sector job. Green resigned after voting to help pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Primary elections took place on October 7, where Republican Matt Van Epps and Democrat Aftyn Behn won their respective primaries. The in-person early voting period ran from November 12 to 26. In the December 2 general election, Van Epps defeated Behn by 8 %. Democrats significantly improved their margins in the special election, overperforming their 2024 result by 12 %. Although voter turnout was lower, as is common in special elections, it reached a level similar to what the district recorded during the 2022 midterms. This marked the strongest Democratic performance in the district since 1982. Van Epps was sworn in to Congress on December 4, 2025.

Infobox

Turnout
38%
Nominee
Matt Van Epps
Party
Republican
Popular vote
97,034
Percentage
53 %

Tables

· Republican primary › Fundraising
Candidate
Candidate
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
Candidate
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
Raised
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
Spent
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
Cash on hand
Gino Bulso (R)
Gino Bulso (R)
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
Gino Bulso (R)
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
$757,062
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
$701,501
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
$55,561
Jody Barrett (R)
Jody Barrett (R)
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
Jody Barrett (R)
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
$316,907
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
$255,345
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
$61,562
Stuart Cooper (R)
Stuart Cooper (R)
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
Stuart Cooper (R)
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
$34,653
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
$28,793
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
$5,859
Mason Foley (R)
Mason Foley (R)
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
Mason Foley (R)
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
$405,548
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
$391,822
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
$13,726
Jason Knight (R)
Jason Knight (R)
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
Jason Knight (R)
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
$41,865
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
$36,093
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
$5,772
Joe Leurs (R)
Joe Leurs (R)
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
Joe Leurs (R)
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
$6,604
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
$17,747
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
$0
Stewart Parks (R)
Stewart Parks (R)
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
Stewart Parks (R)
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
$362,210
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
$358,595
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
$3,615
Matthew Van Epps (R)
Matthew Van Epps (R)
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
Matthew Van Epps (R)
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
$992,716
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
$761,549
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
$231,167
Lee Reeves (R)
Lee Reeves (R)
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
Lee Reeves (R)
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
$578,854
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
$550,388
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
$28,466
Source: Federal Election Commission
Source: Federal Election Commission
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
Source: Federal Election Commission
Campaign finance reports as of November 11, 2025
Candidate
Raised
Spent
Cash on hand
Gino Bulso (R)
$757,062
$701,501
$55,561
Jody Barrett (R)
$316,907
$255,345
$61,562
Stuart Cooper (R)
$34,653
$28,793
$5,859
Mason Foley (R)
$405,548
$391,822
$13,726
Jason Knight (R)
$41,865
$36,093
$5,772
Joe Leurs (R)
$6,604
$17,747
$0
Stewart Parks (R)
$362,210
$358,595
$3,615
Matthew Van Epps (R)
$992,716
$761,549
$231,167
Lee Reeves (R)
$578,854
$550,388
$28,466
Source: Federal Election Commission
· Republican primary › Polling
Spry Strategies
Spry Strategies
Poll source
Spry Strategies
Date(s) administered
August 19–23, 2025
Sample size
500 (LV)
Margin of error
± 4 %
Jody Barrett
10%
Gino Bulso
9%
Lee Reeves
8%
Matt Van Epps
7%
Other
8%
Undecided
58%
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
Jody Barrett
Gino Bulso
Lee Reeves
Matt Van Epps
Other
Undecided
Spry Strategies
August 19–23, 2025
500 (LV)
± 4 %
10%
9%
8%
7%
8%
58%
Republican primary results · Republican primary › Results
Total votes
Total votes
Party
Total votes
Party
36,862
Candidate
100 %
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Matt Van Epps
19,006
51 %
Republican
Jody Barrett
9,337
25 %
Republican
Gino Bulso
4,005
10 %
Republican
Lee Reeves (withdrawn)
1,929
5 %
Republican
Mason Foley
1,022
2 %
Republican
Stewart Parks
595
1 %
Republican
Jason Knight
381
1 %
Republican
Stuart Cooper (withdrawn)
239
0 %
Republican
Tres Wittum
133
0 %
Republican
Joe Leurs
122
0 %
Republican
Adolph Dagan
93
0 %
Total votes
36,862
100 %
Results by county · Republican primary › Results › By county
Benton (part)
Benton (part)
County
Benton (part)
Van Epps
336
Van Epps
51 %
Barrett
132
Barrett
20 %
Bulso
123
Bulso
18 %
Reeves
17
Reeves
2 %
Parks
25
Parks
3 %
Others
19
Cheatham
Cheatham
County
Cheatham
Van Epps
1,695
Van Epps
57 %
Barrett
681
Barrett
23 %
Bulso
234
Bulso
7 %
Reeves
116
Reeves
3 %
Parks
42
Parks
1 %
Others
167
Davidson (part)
Davidson (part)
County
Davidson (part)
Van Epps
1,359
Van Epps
52 %
Barrett
474
Barrett
18 %
Bulso
318
Bulso
12 %
Reeves
158
Reeves
6 %
Parks
52
Parks
1 %
Others
247
Decatur
Decatur
County
Decatur
Van Epps
427
Van Epps
58 %
Barrett
120
Barrett
16 %
Bulso
72
Bulso
9 %
Reeves
27
Reeves
3 %
Parks
58
Parks
7 %
Others
29
Dickson
Dickson
County
Dickson
Van Epps
1,504
Van Epps
36 %
Barrett
2,201
Barrett
52 %
Bulso
256
Bulso
6 %
Reeves
124
Reeves
2 %
Parks
29
Parks
0 %
Others
64
Hickman
Hickman
County
Hickman
Van Epps
567
Van Epps
28 %
Barrett
1,041
Barrett
52 %
Bulso
199
Bulso
10 %
Reeves
59
Reeves
2 %
Parks
54
Parks
2 %
Others
54
Houston
Houston
County
Houston
Van Epps
232
Van Epps
34 %
Barrett
165
Barrett
24 %
Bulso
214
Bulso
31 %
Reeves
15
Reeves
2 %
Parks
23
Parks
3 %
Others
21
Humphreys
Humphreys
County
Humphreys
Van Epps
568
Van Epps
47 %
Barrett
368
Barrett
30 %
Bulso
146
Bulso
12 %
Reeves
48
Reeves
4 %
Parks
12
Parks
1 %
Others
51
Montgomery
Montgomery
County
Montgomery
Van Epps
5,837
Van Epps
66 %
Barrett
1148
Barrett
13 %
Bulso
915
Bulso
10 %
Reeves
307
Reeves
3 %
Parks
51
Parks
0 %
Others
471
Perry
Perry
County
Perry
Van Epps
230
Van Epps
46 %
Barrett
167
Barrett
33 %
Bulso
61
Bulso
12 %
Reeves
13
Reeves
2 %
Parks
18
Parks
3 %
Others
11
Robertson
Robertson
County
Robertson
Van Epps
2,810
Van Epps
64 %
Barrett
628
Barrett
14 %
Bulso
503
Bulso
11 %
Reeves
153
Reeves
3 %
Parks
69
Parks
1 %
Others
215
Stewart
Stewart
County
Stewart
Van Epps
590
Van Epps
58 %
Barrett
147
Barrett
14 %
Bulso
164
Bulso
16 %
Reeves
34
Reeves
3 %
Parks
40
Parks
3 %
Others
31
Wayne
Wayne
County
Wayne
Van Epps
457
Van Epps
50 %
Barrett
268
Barrett
29 %
Bulso
69
Bulso
7 %
Reeves
30
Reeves
3 %
Parks
40
Parks
4 %
Others
34
Williamson (part)
Williamson (part)
County
Williamson (part)
Van Epps
2,394
Van Epps
37 %
Barrett
1,797
Barrett
28 %
Bulso
731
Bulso
11 %
Reeves
828
Reeves
12 %
Parks
82
Parks
1 %
Others
576
Totals
Totals
County
Totals
Van Epps
19,006
Van Epps
51 %
Barrett
9,337
Barrett
25 %
Bulso
4,005
Bulso
10 %
Reeves
1,929
Reeves
5 %
Parks
595
Parks
1 %
Others
1,990
County
Van Epps
Barrett
Bulso
Reeves
Parks
Others
Total
Benton (part)
336
51 %
132
20 %
123
18 %
17
2 %
25
3 %
19
Cheatham
1,695
57 %
681
23 %
234
7 %
116
3 %
42
1 %
167
Davidson (part)
1,359
52 %
474
18 %
318
12 %
158
6 %
52
1 %
247
Decatur
427
58 %
120
16 %
72
9 %
27
3 %
58
7 %
29
Dickson
1,504
36 %
2,201
52 %
256
6 %
124
2 %
29
0 %
64
Hickman
567
28 %
1,041
52 %
199
10 %
59
2 %
54
2 %
54
Houston
232
34 %
165
24 %
214
31 %
15
2 %
23
3 %
21
Humphreys
568
47 %
368
30 %
146
12 %
48
4 %
12
1 %
51
Montgomery
5,837
66 %
1148
13 %
915
10 %
307
3 %
51
0 %
471
Perry
230
46 %
167
33 %
61
12 %
13
2 %
18
3 %
11
Robertson
2,810
64 %
628
14 %
503
11 %
153
3 %
69
1 %
215
Stewart
590
58 %
147
14 %
164
16 %
34
3 %
40
3 %
31
Wayne
457
50 %
268
29 %
69
7 %
30
3 %
40
4 %
34
Williamson (part)
2,394
37 %
1,797
28 %
731
11 %
828
12 %
82
1 %
576
Totals
19,006
51 %
9,337
25 %
4,005
10 %
1,929
5 %
595
1 %
1,990
· Democratic primary › Fundraising
Candidate
Candidate
Campaign finance reports as of November 12, 2025
Candidate
Campaign finance reports as of November 12, 2025
Raised
Campaign finance reports as of November 12, 2025
Spent
Campaign finance reports as of November 12, 2025
Cash on hand
Aftyn Behn (D)
Aftyn Behn (D)
Campaign finance reports as of November 12, 2025
Aftyn Behn (D)
Campaign finance reports as of November 12, 2025
$1,230,629
Campaign finance reports as of November 12, 2025
$708,892
Campaign finance reports as of November 12, 2025
$521,737
Darden Copeland (D)
Darden Copeland (D)
Campaign finance reports as of November 12, 2025
Darden Copeland (D)
Campaign finance reports as of November 12, 2025
$591,675
Campaign finance reports as of November 12, 2025
$483,889
Campaign finance reports as of November 12, 2025
$107,786
Vincent Dixie (D)
Vincent Dixie (D)
Campaign finance reports as of November 12, 2025
Vincent Dixie (D)
Campaign finance reports as of November 12, 2025
$161,609
Campaign finance reports as of November 12, 2025
$145,924
Campaign finance reports as of November 12, 2025
$15,685
Bo Mitchell (D)
Bo Mitchell (D)
Campaign finance reports as of November 12, 2025
Bo Mitchell (D)
Campaign finance reports as of November 12, 2025
$228,777
Campaign finance reports as of November 12, 2025
$198,633
Campaign finance reports as of November 12, 2025
$30,144
Source: Federal Election Commission
Source: Federal Election Commission
Campaign finance reports as of November 12, 2025
Source: Federal Election Commission
Campaign finance reports as of November 12, 2025
Candidate
Raised
Spent
Cash on hand
Aftyn Behn (D)
$1,230,629
$708,892
$521,737
Darden Copeland (D)
$591,675
$483,889
$107,786
Vincent Dixie (D)
$161,609
$145,924
$15,685
Bo Mitchell (D)
$228,777
$198,633
$30,144
Source: Federal Election Commission

References

  1. The Tennessee Secretary of State has not released an official districtwide turnout report. Turnout is calculated by divi
  2. Glenn Jacobs endorsed Matt Van Epps after Lee Reeves, whom he had originally endorsed, dropped out.
  3. $693,973 of this total was self-funded by Bulso
  4. $1,995 of this total was self-funded by Cooper
  5. $325,000 of this total was self-funded by Foley
  6. $20,000 of this total was self-funded by Knight
  7. $67,167 of this total was self-funded by Parks
  8. $300,000 of this total was self-funded by Reeves
  9. Key: A – all adults RV – registered voters LV – likely voters V – unclear
  10. Knight with 3%; Wittum with 2%; Cooper, Dagan, and Parks with 1%; Foley and Leurs with 0%
  11. $100,000 of this total was self-funded by Copeland
  12. Thorp with 1%, Christie with 1%, Dodge and Sutherby with <1%
  13. With voters who lean towards a given candidate
  14. Thorp with 2%, Christie with 1%, Dodge with 1%, Sutherby with <1%
  15. Thorp (I) with 1%
  16. "Independent candidates" with 7%
  17. With voters who lean towards a given candidate
  18. "Would Not Vote/Undecided/Don't Know" with 4%
  19. This poll was sponsored by Americans for Prosperity Tennessee
  20. Poll sponsored by Nexstar Media Group
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Source:
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