Republican Matt Van Epps has won the Tennessee House Election in a special race held in the west Nashville area. He defeated Democrat Aftyn Behn in a contest that drew wide national attention. Many groups viewed the race as an early test of party strength ahead of next year’s federal midterm vote. The race ended with Van Epps ahead by a small but clear margin. Early counts showed him with 52 percent while Behn had 46 percent. The final call came soon after polls closed. Van Epps said the vote was about more than one campaign. He said the result showed the direction that many people in the state want to take. He also said that the result showed strong support for his message. His comments focused on voter energy and a call for a simple plan for change. He told supporters that they helped shape a new path for the district with strong turnout. His campaign leaned on help from former President Donald Trump. Trump backed Van Epps during the final stretch of the race. He spoke at online events and talked often about support for the candidate. Van Epps said this support played a key role in the win. He shared that he plans to stand with Trump in future work in Congress. His message was that teamwork helped him rise above a late push from the other side. The Tennessee House Election took place in a district that has a long history of support for Republican candidates. Trump won the district by wide margins in both 2020 and 2024. But special elections can shift fast, and both sides said the race could tighten. Local polls showed the gap closing in recent days. These signs made many people wonder if the district was starting to change its long-term pattern. The final six-point margin shows a smaller lead for Republicans than in past years. Election analysts note that the district is now rated as “leans Republican” instead of “safe.” They say that changes in voter behavior in this cycle made the race closer. Many state and national observers said that this year’s special elections have seen strong turnout from Democratic voters. This shift increased interest in the Tennessee House Election. It also pushed groups on both sides to spend more money late in the race. The special election happened because former Congressman Mark Green stepped down in July. He left office after new laws passed in Congress. He said he wanted to start a company focused on competition with Chinese firms in Guyana. His exit opened the seat and set up a crowded primary for both parties. The chamber now has a narrow 219–213 split, so both parties wanted the seat. Van Epps is a former Army helicopter pilot. He graduated from West Point and once led the Tennessee department of general services. He won the Republican primary against nine other candidates. Support from Trump, Green and Tennessee’s governor helped him rise above the large field. His campaign focused on military service, state work and a plan for stable growth. Aftyn Behn won a tight primary on the Democratic side. She has served in the state house since 2023. She has worked in social services and community programs. She also spent years as an organizer. Her campaign drew new funding and support after strong Democratic wins in other states earlier this month. Party groups hoped she could push an upset. Major Democratic donors provided late funds to raise turnout in the region. They hoped that rural and suburban shifts could play a role in the result. Behn’s supporters noted that the district, which reaches from Kentucky to Alabama, mixes rural areas with parts of Nashville and the city of Clarksville. They said this mix could help narrow the gap. Several campaign experts said before the vote that the race would likely end with a single-digit margin. That prediction proved accurate. Van Epps will now prepare to serve in Congress. He will take the seat once results are certified. The Tennessee House Election again showed that even in areas with long party history, voter patterns can shift. Both parties will study these results as they plan for next year’s races.