President Donald Trump and the Republican Party are braced for a major political test today as voters in a traditionally solid Republican district in Tennessee head to the polls for a knife-edge special election.
A Battle for a Deep-Red Seat
The election is taking place in Tennessee’s 7th congressional district, a constituency that has long been a Republican stronghold. In the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump carried this district by a commanding 22-point margin. The vacancy arose after the Republican incumbent, Representative Mark Green, resigned during the summer.
Despite the area's conservative leanings, early polling indicates the race is unexpectedly tight. This has triggered a surge in campaign spending in recent weeks, with political advertisements dominating airwaves and campaign literature flooding local mailboxes.
Big Guns Rally for the Candidates
Both national parties have deployed their heavyweights to the state in a final push for votes. On Monday, House Speaker Mike Johnson travelled to Tennessee to campaign for the Republican candidate, Matt Van Epps.
During the rally, Speaker Johnson put a call through to President Trump on his mobile phone. Trump addressed the crowd of Republican supporters remotely, urging them to secure a "sweeping victory". "The whole world is watching Tennessee right now. And they're watching your district," the former president declared.
The Democratic candidate, Aftyn Behn from Nashville, has received significant backing from her party's stars. She has been nicknamed "the AOC of Tennessee" by conservative commentators. Behn's campaign was boosted by an online rally featuring New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and former Vice President Al Gore.
High Stakes for the House of Representatives
The outcome of this special election carries substantial consequences for the balance of power in Washington. A victory for Democrat Aftyn Behn would represent a significant and embarrassing defeat for President Trump and the GOP in a heartland district.
More critically, it would narrow the Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. Republicans currently hold 219 seats, but this number will drop to 218 next month when Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene resigns from Congress. A Democratic win in Tennessee would move the chamber a step closer to a potential Democratic majority, dramatically altering the legislative landscape.
Polls are open today, Tuesday the 2nd of December 2025, with the nation watching to see if this deep-red district will deliver a major political upset.
