Millions pour into Tennessee special election ahead of December vote

Money is pouring into a deep-red House district in Tennessee ahead of an early December special election, as the candidates and their super PAC backers ramp up spending. Republican Matt Van Epps, a former state official, and Democratic state Rep. Aftyn Behn are in a heated ad war that has drawn notable outside groups from both parties into the 7th Congressional District, which President Donald Trump carried by 22 points in 2024. Behn’s campaign raised more than $1 million from Oct. 1 to Nov. 12, according to a Thursday campaign finance filing. She spent a little more than half of that during the same period. Van Epps, meanwhile, raised about $591,000 and spent most of it, leaving him with $231,000 in the bank for the stretch run. Behn had about $522,000 on hand at the close of the fundraising period. Behn is hoping to mobilize independents and moderate Republicans, as well as her Nashville Democratic base, to capitalize on expected low turnout. She sees a path to victory by defining herself as an accountability candidate who can put a check on President Donald Trump’s party in the House, particularly criticizing the GOP’s signature tax cuts and spending bill as well as Trump’s tariffs. And she’s running an unabashedly Democratic campaign, leaning on DNC Chairman Ken Martin and former Vice President Kamala Harris. But that support from establishment figures is giving her opponent fodder. Van Epps, an Army veteran, boasts endorsements from Trump, Gov. Bill Lee and former Rep. Mark Green, who resigned in April from the seat Van Epps is seeking to fill. He’s running on reliably MAGA themes, as Republicans are trying to rev up enthusiasm for the unusually timed election — and make sure that low turnout doesn’t turn into an embarrassing result. But he has also sought to emphasize other issues on the airwaves, like bringing down prices. The Trump-aligned super PAC MAGA Inc. has already reported over $1 million in independent expenditures in the race, marking the first time the group has waded into a federal contest so far this year. Other conservative groups like Club for Growth and another super PAC that’s been primarily funded by GOP megadonors in the past, have jumped in too to boost Van Epps. Behn is getting an outside boost too, albeit a bit of a smaller one than her Republican opponent. There’s been more than $3.3 million spent to oppose Behn or support Van Epps, with a little more than $900,000 in independent expenditures aimed at boosting the Democrat. Tthat includes about $100,000 that also boosts independent Jon Thorp, likely hoping the Army veteran might pull more votes from the Republican candidate than the Democratic one. Republicans have the edge on the airwaves, too. The Van Epps campaign and its allies have spent about $730,000 on advertising since the primary, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact, while Democrats have spent about $500,000. Super PACs backing Van Epps are trying to brand Behn as a radical, likening her to New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and using a clip from a video she recorded calling herself a “very radical person.” Van Epps’ own campaign has run ads playing up his service in the Army. Behn hit back with an ad comparing conditions for working people to a rough ride on a mechanical bull. She criticized expiring Medicare subsidies, tariffs and the Trump administration’s longtime hesitancy to release files related to the investigation into late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.