Tennessee holds special election for former GOP Rep Green's seat, results of offer insight into 2026

Tennessee is holding a special election on Tuesday for former GOP Rep. Mark Green's seat, the 7th Congressional District, which Republicans are expected to win.

Republican Matt Van Epps, a former Tennessee Department of General Services commissioner, is running against Democratic state Rep. Aftyn Behn to succeed Green, who resigned from Congress earlier this year for the private sector, The Hill news outlet reported.

Democrats are hoping to flip the district, which includes parts of north and west Nashville and stretches from Tennessee’s northern border with Kentucky to its southern border with Alabama. Both Green and President Trump won the district by around 22 points last year.

A strong primary voter turnout and Democrats' election wins last month have given the party reasons for optimism.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and both chairmen of the national parties have visited Tennessee for the special election. Trump, who endorsed Van Epps, hosted a tele rally on Monday for Van Epps.

Democratic Party members suggested to the news outlet last month that a margin of up to 10 points would represent a good night for them. If the party keeps the election within single digits, it would give them optimism for the midterms. 

A poll released last week by Emerson College Polling and The Hill showed Van Epps winning by 2 points, which is within the survey's margin of error. However, two Democratic-sponsored polls conducted in October by Workbench Strategies and Impact Research both found Van Epps up by 8 points.