President Donald Trump called the special election for former GOP Rep. Mark Green’s Tennessee seat a “big deal” and said he wants Republicans to surpass his 2024 margins in the district.
Trump made the remarks in a Monday night tele-rally for Matt Van Epps, the Republican candidate running against Democrat Aftyn Behn in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District. Voters head to the polls on Tuesday to bring an end to a race that has drawn millions in outside spending as Democrats believe they have an opportunity for an upset.
“This is a big deal, because right now we’re like, three votes up on the radical left, and this would be a wonderful victory for us,” Trump said, according to the New York Post. “It’ll be really a positive sign.”
Trump won the district by more than twenty percentage points in the 2024 presidential race.
“If it’s like two points less than that, they’ll say, ‘Oh, that’s terrible. I guess Trump’s losing his magic,’” Trump said. “I want Matt to do better than me, even.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who spent Monday in Tennessee campaigning with Van Epps, was also on Monday night’s call with Trump.
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“It is no secret my majority in Congress is razor-thin,” Johnson said. “Every seat matters more than ever, and that’s exactly why we need Matt here in Washington.”
Later in a social media post, Trump called for his supporters to surge to the polls.
“I am asking all America First Patriots in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District to please GET OUT AND VOTE TOMORROW for a phenomenal Candidate, Matt Van Epps, on Election Day, Tuesday, December 2nd!” Trump said. “HE WILL BE A GREAT CONGRESSMAN and, unlike his Opponent, he cherishes Christianity and Country Music — She has openly stated that she hates them both!”
Earlier on Monday, Trump called into a rally in Franklin, Tennessee, where Johnson, Republican senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty, and GOP Governor Bill Lee were all rallying support for Van Epps.
“It’s all going to come down to the numbers, and my friends, the Democrats have seen an opportunity. They’re counting on us to slide into December 2 having enjoyed Thanksgiving and not thinking that this seat is at risk,” Hagerty said. “The message that we can send from here in Tennessee has to be loud and clear. Not only is Tennessee a red state, Tennessee seven is a red district, and the reputation of our state is on the line.”
Behn also held a virtual rally on Monday night, featuring Democrat favorites like former Vice President Al Gore and far-Left Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). Democrats hope to capitalize on high turnout in parts of Nashville and on low Republican turnout in rural areas.
More than 84,000 Tennesseans have already cast their ballots during the early voting period, which lasted from November 12 to 26, according to state officials. Polls in Tennessee will stay open until 7:00 p.m. CST.
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