Tennessee's special election in District 7 to replace U.S. Rep. Mark Green has elected a winner, but not quite how Republicans imagined.

Both parties found reasons to celebrate the Tennessee special election, in which Republican Matt Van Epps prevailed over Democrat Aftyn Behn.

Republican Matt Van Epps has won the special US House election for Tennessee’s 7th District, preventing an upset but emboldening Democrats as they were on track to over-perform in a normally deep-red district.

Republican candidate Matt Van Epps won the District 7 seat on Tuesday, Dec. 2. The 34-year-old combat veteran and former commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services, overtook Aftyn Behn, a progressive Democratic state representative, by single digits, USA TODAY reported.

On Feb 6, 2022, Tennessee's current congressional map went into effect, redrawing District 7. Districts 4, 5 and 6 were redrawn to split up Davidson, Williamson and Wilson counties. Nashville, historically a Democratic stronghold, was then broken up into three congressional districts.

Van Epps defeated Democrat Aftyn Behn, NBC News projects, after an expensive campaign to replace former Rep. Mark Green.

Republican Matt Van Epps won the Tennessee 7th Congressional special election, but Aftyn Behn's overperformance has Democrats celebrating, too, and sets up an affordability focus in the 2026 midterms.

Tennessee special election results spark debate over 2026 midterms as Republicans maintain House seat despite heavy Democratic spending and efforts.

Democrat Aftyn Behn is already teasing another Congressional run after losing in Tuesday's special election for Tennessee's 7th congressional district to Republican Matt Van Epps. Speaking on CNN, Behn said that she was planning to call her rival to congratulate him,