Voters in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District cast ballots on Tuesday, Dec. 2, to replace former Rep. Mark Green. As of early Wednesday morning, Dec. 3 (Cairo time), no official winner had been declared and the count remained underway. Recent updates indicate a close contest between Republican Matt Van Epps and Democrat Aftyn Behn; details may evolve as additional counties report.
When do polls close in Tennessee?
Polling places in the 7th District closed at 7:00 p.m. Central Time (8:00 p.m. ET) on Tuesday. Because the district spans Central-time counties, most votes began reporting shortly after 8 p.m. ET, with later-arriving precincts and absentee/provisional ballots extending the tally into the night.
Who is on the ballot in the Tennessee 7th District special election?
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Matt Van Epps (R): Former Army pilot and a former state cabinet official. Backed by key national Republican figures and aligned groups in the final stretch.
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Aftyn Behn (D): State representative from Nashville with a background in social work and grassroots organizing. Drew significant small-dollar fundraising and high-profile Democratic surrogates.
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Minor/independent candidates: A handful of independents qualified, but the race has functioned as a two-person contest in most polling and spending.
Latest polling and momentum
Public polling heading into Election Day suggested a single-digit race, with one late survey showing Van Epps narrowly ahead within the margin of error and another indicating a statistical tie once leaners were included. Early voters trended more favorable to Behn, while day-of voters leaned toward Van Epps—an expected split that made final turnout patterns decisive.
Key factors shaping the late polls:
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Turnout mix: Suburbs in Williamson and Montgomery Counties versus rural West Tennessee counties.
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Partisan enthusiasm: High-intensity national attention on both sides; Republicans emphasized public safety and immigration, Democrats focused on cost of living and health care.
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Cash and air cover: Millions in outside spending boosted name ID and hardened partisan lines, but also raised the likelihood of a polarized, base-driven finish.
What to watch as results continue
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Davidson/Williamson/Montgomery trinity: Behn sought to post big margins with Nashville-area voters and remain competitive in fast-growing suburbs; Van Epps aimed to blunt those margins while maximizing rural totals.
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Election Day vs. early vote: If same-day turnout outpaced early vote in rural counties, it would typically benefit Republicans; high early-vote shares around Nashville favored Democrats.
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Provisionals/late absentees: These seldom reverse large margins but can matter in a razor-thin race.
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Timing of county reports: Some rural counties report quickly; larger counties can release in waves, producing swings as precincts drop.
Why Tennessee’s 7th District became competitive
After the 2020 census, the Nashville area was split among multiple GOP-leaning districts. In a low-turnout, off-cycle special election, that map can produce surprising dynamics: a Democrat consolidating urban and inner-suburban voters while a Republican banks on broad but thinner margins across many rural counties. Demographic shifts in the Nashville corridor and a post-midterms national mood added volatility to a seat long considered safely Republican.
Stakes for control of the U.S. House
With the House closely divided, even a single seat changes the governing math. A Van Epps win would reinforce the GOP’s hold and provide a morale boost after several Democratic overperformances in recent special contests. A Behn upset would jolt the national landscape, signaling risk for Republicans in other red-leaning, fast-growing districts heading into 2026.
Timeline and what’s next
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Dec. 2 (Election Day): Polls closed at 7 p.m. CT / 8 p.m. ET; first waves of results posted thereafter.
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Late evening–overnight: Additional precincts and absentee counts updated; no certified winner as of early Dec. 3 (Cairo time).
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Certification: County canvasses and state certification to follow standard procedures. If the margin is exceptionally tight, expect added scrutiny of provisional and late-arriving eligible ballots.
Quick answers to common searches
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“Tennessee special election results” / “TN special election”: Vote counting continued overnight; no call had been made as of early Dec. 3 (Cairo time).
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“Aftyn Behn polls” / “Matt Van Epps polls”: Final pre-election polling pointed to a narrow race within the margin of error.
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“When do polls close in Tennessee?” 7 p.m. CT (8 p.m. ET) in this district.
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“Tennessee 7th District” / “Tennessee elections”: The district covers 14 counties in Middle and West Tennessee, including a portion of the Nashville area; this off-cycle race was triggered by a mid-year resignation.
