Republicans took a victory lap when Matt Van Epps defeated leftist Democrat Aftyn Behn in Tennessee&#8217;s special election this month.
But what, if anything, does Van Epps&#8217;s victory mean for Republican prospects as we head into the 2026 midterm elections?
The Daily Wire asked three Republican strategists to share their key takeaways from this race. All three said that Democrats run the risk of killing any momentum they have if they nominate far-left candidates in primaries for competitive seats.
“For all the handwringing about margin of victory, this was nearly a double digit win. Special elections are special for a reason, and Republicans were wise to leave nothing to chance and sprint through the tape,” South &amp; Hill Strategies co-founder Colin Reed said, calling Van Epps the “type of candidate the GOP needs more of.”
“There are some useful lessons looking forward for both parties: for the GOP, the midterm political climate remains challenging, as it always does for the party in charge, and for the Democrats, they need to nominate less extreme candidates if they want to compete beyond the deep blue bastions of America,” he said.
“That’s a challenge for them because the far Left is where all the energy and enthusiasm resides.”
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The results of the 2026 midterms will shape the final two years of President Donald Trump’s time in the White House. Currently, there are 220 Republicans and 213 Democrats in the House of Representatives, with two seats that are vacant. The magic number for a majority is 218, which both parties are vying for both on the campaign trail and in mid-decade redistricting battles.
Van Epps won with roughly 54% of the vote, leaving Behn with just over 45%. In 2024, Rep. Mark Green, who resigned earlier this year, won the seat with 59.5% of the vote, with President Donald Trump also winning heavily. Van Epps was sworn in on Thursday.
The race led to surrogates campaigning left and right, from President Donald Trump phoning into a rally with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), to former Vice Presidents Kamala Harris and Al Gore hoping to rally the troops for Behn.
Despite her loss, Behn expressed confidence about the margin by which she lost, as she ran her campaign largely on affordability, but faced a wave of scrutiny for her past far-left comments on abolishing prisons, law enforcement, and abortion.
“Tonight, we did something everyone counted out. We proved to a nation that states like Tennessee are still worth fighting for,” Behn posted to X on Tuesday. “The margin was close, and that can only be attributed to the thousands of volunteers who showed out. This is just the beginning.”
Chris Burger, founder and CEO of the Tennessee-based Rotunda Public Affairs, said that “voters weren’t buying what she’s selling.” Burger pointed out how the Democrat was in a primary with three others: Darden Copeland and state Reps. Bo Mitchell and Vincent Dixie.
“This is what happens when you have four people in a Democratic primary, and they elect by a pretty close margin, the most extreme left-wing person in the race, and then all the far-left activists and the national media complex come together,” he added.
&#8220;They put all their attention and money into it, and they threw the kitchen sink at it. And you know, Aftyn&#8217;s a far-left socialist and she does not represent the Seventh District or Tennessee values at large,&#8221; he said.
A third GOP operative, who spoke with The Daily Wire on background, said that they are “very encouraged” by Tuesday night’s results, and said that “a nine-point margin is really strong compared to what we&#8217;re seeing in other elections this cycle.”
However, the operative cautioned that special elections are just that — special — and that turnout likely looks very different from that during a standard election. The operative also pointed out the major messaging pivot by Democrats between the start of the year and now, which went from focusing highly on Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency to discussing the cost-of-living.
&#8220;Affordability, they call it, was a con job by the Democrats,&#8221; Trump said during his cabinet meeting earlier this week, as he often blames Democrats and the Biden administration for policies that triggered high inflation.
Burger said that the affordability argument from Democrats like Behn falls flat on its merits when people consider the &#8220;policy objective&#8221; the candidates are campaigning for.
&#8220;If you look at what the Democrats want to do: government involvement. And government involvement typically always drives the price up.

Aftyn Behn and Matt Van Epps

Three GOP Strategists Explain Why Aftyn Behn Lost — And What It Means For 2026

Aftyn Behn

Congress

Elections

Matt Van Epps

Politics

Tennessee

U.S. House of Representatives

The Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that Texas could forge ahead with its newly redrawn congressional map ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The <a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26338616/25a608-order.pdf">initial order</a> was unsigned, and declared that the lower court&#8217;s decision to block the map — which favors Republicans — had been made in error. A brief concurring opinion followed that was joined by Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, and Neil Gorsuch. Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown-Jackson joined together in dissent.
The order opened with a brief explanation, noting that a three-judge District Court had granted the League of Latin American Voters&#8217; request for an injunction — which would have prevented the state from implementing the new map — and stated that the Court intended to stay the injunction, as requested by the state of Texas. &#8220;The District Court failed to honor the presumption of legislative good faith by construing ambiguous direct and circumstantial evidence against the legislature,&#8221; the explanation read, in part.
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Justice Alito, in his concurring opinion, argued that the lower court&#8217;s determination — that the Republican-drawn map was based on race rather than politics — was made in error. He wrote that it was &#8220;indisputable&#8221; that the &#8220;impetus for the adoption of the Texas map (like the map subsequently adopted in California) was partisan advantage pure and simple&#8221; — and that being the case, the state should be permitted to move forward with that map. Thomas and Gorsuch agreed.
&#8220;When the asserted reason for a map is political, it is critical for challengers to produce an alternative map that serves the State’s allegedly partisan aim just as well as the map the State adopted. Id., at 34; Easley v. Cromartie, 532 U. S. 234, 258 (2001). Although respondents’ experts could have easily produced such a map if that were possible, they did not, giving rise to a strong inference that the State’s map was indeed based on partisanship, not race,&#8221; their concurring opinion continued.
Justice Kagan, in her lengthy dissent, complained that the ruling had declared the redrawn maps to not be based on race, as the lower court had found, but had instead justified them being drawn for political reasons.
The ruling, she said, &#8220;disserves the millions of Texans whom the District Court found were assigned to their new districts based on their race.&#8221;

Greg Abbott

Red State Wins Massive Supreme Court Victory On Redistricting

2026 Midterms

Redistricting

SCOTUS

Supreme Court

Texas

Republican Matt Van Epps fended off a challenge from far-Left Democrat Aftyn Behn on Tuesday during a special election for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District.
With 95% of the vote in, <a href="https://election-night.decisiondeskhq.com/date/2025-12-02">DecisionDeskHQ</a> has called the race for Van Epps 53.9% to 45%. Other outlets followed shortly after.
Van Epps&#8217; victory allows Republicans to breathe a sigh of relief after Democrats surged money and resources into the race, hoping to capitalize on typically low Republican turnout in special elections. A win for Behn in the deep red district would have sent shockwaves throughout the nation. The self-described “radical” community organizer had previously voiced support for burning down police stations and supported transgender surgeries on young children.
The race was scheduled after former Rep. Mark Green announced his resignation earlier this year. Green won the district, which stretches from Tennessee’s borders with Kentucky and Alabama and includes parts of Nashville, by over 20 points.
In recent weeks, money poured into the race as Behn campaigned with Democrat favorites Al Gore and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
House Speaker Mike Johnson <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-reputation-of-our-state-is-on-the-line-gop-begins-final-push-before-critical-house-election?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=%E2%80%98The+Reputation+Of+Our+State+Is+On+The+Line%E2%80%99%3A+GOP+Begins+Final+Push+Before+Critical+House+Election">traveled to Tennessee</a> on Monday to rally support for Van Epps.
Van Epps’ win bolsters Johnson’s slim majority in the House, which currently sits at 219-213.
Behn had a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/everything-you-need-to-know-for-the-crucial-tennessee-special-house-election?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=5&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Everything+You+Need+To+Know+For+The+Crucial+Tennessee+Special+House+Election">fundraising advantage</a> over Van Epps, raising over $1 million between October 1 and November 12 while Van Epps took in $591,000 during that same timeframe. At the same time, the Trump-aligned MAGA Inc spent over $1 million backing Van Epps, while the Democrat-aligned House Majority PAC and Your Community PAC have spent a combined $950,000 supporting Behn.
Behn won a crowded Democratic primary in August despite a history of leftist advocacy out of touch with much of the Volunteer State’s conservative leaning.
She once claimed that <a href="https://x.com/claytravis/status/1993319674352697755?s=42">men can give birth</a>. Behn also said that the murder of six children by a transgender-identifying gunman at the Covenant School in Tennessee made her more sympathetic to “trans communities.” That apparent sympathy <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrat-aftyn-behn-said-covenant-shooting-made-her-fearful-for-trans-communities">inspired</a> her to “fight the far-right narrative that is being emanated by Matt Walsh and The Daily Wire.”
Behn also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tennessee-congressional-candidate-backs-trans-procedures-for-kids-campaigns-with-drag-queen">backs</a> transgender procedures on children, draping a trans flag on her back during “Pride” month and writing on social media: “THESE COLORS DON’T BLEED. Remember, you come for my trans community, I come for you.”
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In a May 2022 podcast appearance, Behn said she supported the mailing of abortion pills into Tennessee by outside groups. Medication abortions are illegal under Tennessee law.
“We’ll continue to figure out how to get abortion pills to people. So the organizing does not stop just because Roe is overturned,” Behn said.
Last month, Behn <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/music-city-fumble-dem-candidate-said-she-hates-city-she-wants-to-represent-in-congress">went viral</a> for comments she made about her hatred of country music and the city of Nashville.
Van Epps also won a crowded Republican primary after earning an endorsement from President Donald Trump. Trump called into a rally for Van Epps featuring Tennessee GOP heavyweights and held a tele-rally on Monday night for the Republican on the eve of the election.

No Dem Upset Aftyn All: Van Epps Defeats Radical Leftist Aftyn Behn In Tennessee Special Election

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 <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/12/01/us-news/trump-calls-tennessee-special-election-a-big-thing-suggests-results-will-reflect-on-him-and-the-gop/">said</a>, 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,&#8217;” Trump said. “I want Matt to do better than me, even.&#8221;
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-reputation-of-our-state-is-on-the-line-gop-begins-final-push-before-critical-house-election?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=%E2%80%98The+Reputation+Of+Our+State+Is+On+The+Line%E2%80%99%3A+GOP+Begins+Final+Push+Before+Critical+House+Election">who spent</a> Monday in Tennessee campaigning with Van Epps, was also on Monday night&#8217;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 <a href="https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1995676855651664182">called</a> 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 <a href="https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1995676855651664182">said</a>. “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 <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-reputation-of-our-state-is-on-the-line-gop-begins-final-push-before-critical-house-election?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=‘The+Reputation+Of+Our+State+Is+On+The+Line’%3A+GOP+Begins+Final+Push+Before+Critical+House+Election">called</a> 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 <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/big-name-dems-make-final-pitch-for-aftyn-behn-hope-for-tuesday-miracle-in-tennessee?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Big-Name+Dems+Make+Final+Pitch+For+Aftyn+Behn%2C+Hope+For+Tuesday+‘Miracle’+In+Tennessee">virtual rally</a> 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, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1169221962004705&amp;set=pcb.1169223325337902" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to</a> state officials. Polls in Tennessee will stay open until 7:00 p.m. CST.

MixCollage-02-Dec-2025-07-14-AM-4931

‘A Big Deal’: Trump Calls On Tennessee Republicans To Surge To The Polls

Donald Trump

Mark Green

FRANKLIN, Tenn. — “The reputation of our state is on the line,” said Tennessee Republican senator Bill Hagerty as he addressed several hundred Republican voters gathered Monday morning to rally support for congressional candidate Matt Van Epps one day before a crucial special election.
The temperatures outside were chilly, but the mood of Republican officials inside the rally was confident yet urgent. Most said they believed that Van Epps would win the race for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, but that the margins could be closer than what would typically be expected in the Republican favorable district. Van Epps is facing off against state Democrat Representative Aftyn Behn, a far-Left candidate who supports transgender procedures on kids and wants to roll back Tennessee’s pro-life protections.
Democrats have poured millions into the race, capitalizing on their wins last month and hoping for low Republican turnout in the rural areas of the district and high turnout in parts of Nashville. Former congressman Mark Green won the district by over 20 points during the 2024 election before later announcing his resignation.
“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.”
Hagerty said he believed that Van Epps would be OK, but that Tennessee voters had a chance to put a stop to Democrat confidence after racking up wins in Virginia and New Jersey.
The rally was held at the barn of American businessman and billionaire Willis Johnson in rural Williamson County with the backdrop of Johnson’s classic car collection on display. Inside the rally were a who’s who of Volunteer State Republicans, including Governor Bill Lee, Senator Marsha Blackburn, Rep. John Rose, Rep. Andy Ogles, Rep. Tim Burchett, state Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, and state GOP Chair Scott Golden.
&#8220;We are going to win this because we are going to have a coalition that gets out and we&#8217;re going to win decisively,&#8221; Van Epps told the crowd, promising to fight for America First policies if elected to office.
Van Epps won a crowded Republican primary in August after being endorsed by President Donald Trump. A number of Van Epps&#8217; primary opponents, including Reps. Gino Bulso and Jody Barrett, were in attendance and gave Van Epps their full-throated support.
Republican National Committee Chair Joe Gruters also spoke, as did House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who flew in from Washington, D.C., Monday morning. To much cheering, Johnson called President Donald Trump, who addressed the crowd on speaker phone.
<div id="attachment_1007877" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1007877" class="size-full wp-image-1007877" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-2248788404.jpg" alt="FRANKLIN, TENNESSEE - DECEMBER 1: House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) holds his phone to the microphone during a call with U.S. President Donald Trump during a get out the vote event held in support of Republican congressional candidate Matt Van Epps on December 1, 2025 in Franklin, Tennessee. Tennessee's 7th congressional district special election is being held to fill the seat vacated following the resignation of republican Mark Green. " width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-2248788404.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-2248788404-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-2248788404-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-2248788404-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Credit: Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images.</div>
Trump said that he heard the “crowd is incredible” and that he wanted to be there in person, but that the Secret Service said it would be difficult on such short notice.
“I love Tennessee, one of my all-time favorite places. Tennessee, I guess, loves me because we won by the biggest margins anybody has ever won by,” Trump said. &#8220; But if you can go Matt Van Epps, he&#8217;s a winner, he&#8217;s going to be great. Don&#8217;t let this stuff fool you.”
Trump also ripped into Behn for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/music-city-fumble-dem-candidate-said-she-hates-city-she-wants-to-represent-in-congress">previously saying</a> that she hates country music. “How the hell can you elect a person like that?” Trump asked.
Several Republican officials said that they expected Van Epps to win by about 7-10% of the vote. State Senator Joey Hensley told The Daily Wire he thought he would win by 8-10% of the vote, while Williamson County GOP Chair Steve Hickey said he believed the margin would be about 7%. Congressman John Rose told The Daily Wire he thought Van Epps would finish strong.
Multiple local attendees who spoke with The Daily Wire said that they worried that a sense of complacency had set in across the district because the seat went so strongly Republican in the past. Attendee Matt said that he couldn’t believe how close the polls indicated the race would be and said he was confused why Green resigned his seat. Chad, who said he had voted early, said he was worried that Republican turnout would be low.
Other Republicans said the result would hinge on turnout. “The game is tied and it will be decided what we do tomorrow,” Golden said.

House Speaker Johnson Campaigns With Tennessee GOP Congressional Candidate Matt Van Epps

‘The Reputation Of Our State Is On The Line’: GOP Begins Final Push Before Critical House Election

2025 elections

Mike Johnson

Janeese Lewis George, a far-Left councilwoman for Washington D.C.’s Ward 4, announced her bid for mayor on Monday after current Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser said she would not seek re-election. George has previously been endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and has called for divesting funds from the local police department.
George said in her announcement video that “it’s time we had leaders who fight for the people, who stand up to corruption and greed and stand with the people who make D.C. work.”
During her 2024 bid for city council, she was endorsed by the local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
“She understands the realities that families, workers, and tenants face and governs every day with empathy to those realities,” a February 2024 <a href="https://mdcdsa.org/metro-d-c-dsa-endorses-janeese-lewis-george-for-d-c-council/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a> from the group stated.
“She has advocated to expand rent control in the city, led on a Green New Deal for Social Housing, and has introduced legislation to hold slumlords accountable for terrible living conditions,” the release continued.
In 2020, she told <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/protesters-defund-police-george-floyds-death/story?id=71123610" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC News</a> that she backed defunding the Metropolitan Police Department.
&#8220;It&#8217;s no longer sounding like a radical idea. It&#8217;s sounding like a logical idea for many,&#8221; she told the outlet at the time.
George has also faced criticism for a social media post in October 2019 when she wrote, “I will absolutely divest from MPD and put that money into violence interruption programs. Full stop.” According to <a href="https://dcist.com/story/20/05/28/is-this-primary-a-fight-for-the-soul-of-the-d-c-council/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DCist</a> in 2020, she touted her background as a prosecutor to defend against the pushback to her comments.
Bowser and the Trump administration have maintained a cordial yet critical relationship since the president ordered troops and federal officers to the city over the summer. The next mayor will have the unique role of navigating the city’s relationship with the administration, which will likely include U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, who has been leading the federal government&#8217;s efforts to crack down on crime in the city.
“We know that when carjackings go down, when use of guns goes down, when homicide or robbery go down, neighborhoods feel safer and are safer,” Bowser said in August.

Trump Increases Federal Law Enforcement Presence, Deploys National Guard In Nation’s Capital

Far-Left Radical Jumps Into D.C. Mayoral Race As Bowser Bows Out

Democratic Socialists Of America

Washington DC

Tennessee Democratic congressional candidate Aftyn Behn deflected when asked whether she supports abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during an interview with CNN on Sunday.
“I&#8217;ve got 48 hours to flip this congressional district, and have been dogged about the message of affordability, and that&#8217;s not what I&#8217;m hearing in the district,” Behn, a state representative, said before switching topic to rural healthcare.
Behn is running in Tuesday’s special election in the state’s Seventh Congressional District against Republican Matt Van Epps. Rep. Mark Green’s (R) resignation in July created the vacancy that this special election will fill. President Donald Trump and Green both won the district with roughly 60% of the vote in 2024.
CNN’s Manu Raju outright asked her whether ICE should be abolished, noting that it’s a stance Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has, who is expected to campaign with Behn in a tele-rally on Monday, according to the outlet.
Behn was also asked whether ICE should cease its operations in Nashville, parts of which she represents in the state legislature. The Democrat said she’s been hearing from people in her district, particularly the Hispanic community, that they are concerned about “the overreach of our federal government.”
In a May video, the Democrat said, “We’ve got our girl squad, and we’re bullying the ICE vehicles and State Troopers,” which has since been used in advertisements against Behn.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tennessee-democrat-aftyn-behn-repeatedly-advocated-for-prison-abolition?author=Cameron+Arcand&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Tennessee+Democrat+Aftyn+Behn+Also+Wants+To+Abolish+Prisons" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire</a> reported that she’s made previous comments that were highly critical of law enforcement and also called for abolishing prisons multiple times.
“On this Juneteenth, we need less white folks posting Canva graphics and more adopting prison abolition as a political foundation,” Behn said in a deleted post from last year.
“No, I do not agree with these ‘tough-on-crime’ policies,” she told <a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2024/08/01/candidate-profiles-tennessee-senate-and-house-primary/74623149007/?gnt-cfr=1&amp;gca-cat=p&amp;gca-uir=true&amp;gca-epti=z114837d00----v114837b0054xxd005465&amp;gca-ft=181&amp;gca-ds=sophi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Tennessean</a> in August 2024. “As a legislator who believes in prison abolition, I am committed to addressing the root causes of crime rather than implementing punitive measures that often perpetuate a cycle of harm.&#8221;
In 2020, Behn posted on social media, &#8220;Good morning, especially to the 54% of Americans that believe burning down a police station is justified,&#8221; which has led to scrutiny throughout the campaign.
“I’m not gonna engage in cable news talking points,” Behn told <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tennessee-democrat-aftyn-behn-wont-take-back-support-for-burning-down-police-stations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MS Now</a> when asked if she still agreed with her comments made at the time.
Behn has had Vice President Kamala Harris and other major Democrats campaign for her. Van Epps held a rally with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) on Monday, and Trump called in to make his case for the Republican.
“Number one, she hates Christianity,” Trump said on the call to the audience. “Number two, she hates Country Music. How the HELL can you elect a person like that?!”
&nbsp;

Tennessee Democrat Aftyn Behn Won’t Say Whether She Supports Abolishing ICE

Democrats

house

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

President Donald Trump laid into a radical left congressional candidate from Tennessee on Sunday, blasting Democrat Aftyn Behn as &#8220;a woman who hates Christianity, will take away your guns, wants Open Borders, Transgender for everybody, men in women’s sports, and openly disdains Country music.&#8221;
Trump delivered the verbal smackdown in a <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115640171509477265">Truth Social post</a> — in which he also threw his full support behind her opponent, Republican Matt Van Epps — over a viral audio clip in which she&#8217;d declared her hatred for Nashville, bachelorettes, and even country music. His post comes just ahead of the special election in Tennessee&#8217;s 7th Congressional District on Tuesday.
&#8220;I am asking all America First Patriots in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, who haven’t voted yet, to please GET OUT AND VOTE on Election Day, Tuesday, December 2nd, for a phenomenal Candidate, Matt Van Epps,&#8221; Trump&#8217;s post began. &#8220;Matt is fighting against a woman who hates Christianity, will take away your guns, wants Open Borders, Transgender for everybody, men in women’s sports, and openly disdains Country music. She said all of these things precisely, and without question — IT’S ON TAPE!&#8221;
Trump warned voters that they needed to get to the polls, adding, &#8220;Do not take this Race for granted. The Radical Left Democrats are spending a fortune to beat one of the best Candidates we’ve ever had, Matt Van Epps! You can win this Election for Matt. GET OUT AND VOTE FOR MATT VAN EPPS, who has my Complete and Total Endorsement — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!&#8221;
Behn raised eyebrows with her <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/embattled-tennessee-dem-aftyn-behn-offers-proof-she-doesnt-hate-nashville">anti-Nashville</a> rant: &#8220;‘I hate the city, I hate the Tennessee bachelorettes, I hate pedal taverns, I hate country music, I hate all the things that make Nashville … I hate it.&#8221;
She tried to do a little damage control after the audio clip went viral, claiming on the &#8220;Breaking Points&#8221; podcast that she could not possibly hate country music.
&#8220;So, I’m going to say something I haven’t said,” Behn told the hosts. “And I think it’s funny, I hope my parents don’t kill me, but I do not hate country music. I was conceived after a George Strait concert, so … I feel personally attacked.&#8221;
Behn also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tennessee-dem-candidate-aftyn-behn-i-dont-want-children-i-want-power">made headlines</a> with another audio clip of herself describing a recurring dream in which she stood up in a crowded cafeteria full of women and shouted, &#8220;I don&#8217;t want children, I want power!&#8221;

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Trump Mocks Tennessee Radical Aftyn Behn Over Nashville Hate: ‘IT’S ON TAPE’

Trump Mocks Tennessee Radical Aftyn Behn Over Nashville Hate: 'IT'S ON TAPE'

Executive

Social Media

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Aftyn Behn, the Democrat hopeful for Congress in Tennessee, deleted a radical social media post calling on all white people to get behind abolishing prisons.
“On this Juneteenth, we need less white folks posting Canva graphics and more adopting prison abolition as a political foundation,” Behn, a white woman, said in a deleted post just over a year ago, that is now archived on the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240619153246/https:/twitter.com/AftynBehn/status/1803450863240757499" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wayback Machine</a>. The post also recommended four books that &#8220;enhanced&#8221; her &#8220;political education.&#8221;
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Behn is running against Republican Matt Van Epps in a deep red district to replace Mark Green, a congressman who resigned earlier this year. Democrats have spent a hefty amount of money and resources to try and drive turnout among Democrats, hoping to pull an upset in a low-turnout contest.
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The deleted post was not Behn&#8217;s only time advocating for the radical policy, which has been embraced by many advocates of so-called &#8220;social justice.&#8221; In an August 2024 article in <a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2024/08/01/candidate-profiles-tennessee-senate-and-house-primary/74623149007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Tennessean</a>, Behn disclosed the same stance on prisons.
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“No, I do not agree with these ‘tough-on-crime’ policies,” she told the publication at the time. &#8220;As a legislator who believes in prison abolition, I am committed to addressing the root causes of crime rather than implementing punitive measures that often perpetuate a cycle of harm.&#8221;
<div id="attachment_1006417" style="width: 980px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1006417" class="size-full wp-image-1006417" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/5927db9b04c5ef7c0d4dbea3edbfe74b0a21f59c594fb19a2ef28888837d0e2a.jpg" alt="" width="970" height="406" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/5927db9b04c5ef7c0d4dbea3edbfe74b0a21f59c594fb19a2ef28888837d0e2a.jpg 970w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/5927db9b04c5ef7c0d4dbea3edbfe74b0a21f59c594fb19a2ef28888837d0e2a-300x126.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/5927db9b04c5ef7c0d4dbea3edbfe74b0a21f59c594fb19a2ef28888837d0e2a-768x321.jpg 768w" sizes=" (max-width: 970px) 100vw, 970px" />Screenshot of Behn&#8217;s deleted post / Daily Wire</div>
Behn’s campaign did not respond to The Daily Wire’s request for comment. The Democrat has taken other controversial stances on crime, including being one of the handful of lawmakers who voted against the death penalty for those convicted of raping a minor, according to <a href="https://www.wkrn.com/news/tennessee-politics/death-penalty-for-child-rapists-clears-final-legislative-hurdle-heads-to-governors-desk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WKRN</a>. Behn raised concerns that if a child was aware that the consequence of the crime for the abuser was the death penalty, it might prevent the minor from reporting the crime.
“You can read testimonies again and again across this state, but the state intervening to kill a human being does nothing to deter the crime,” Behn said on the state House floor in April 2024 while debating the legislation with Republican Rep. William Lamberth.
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The Democrat has also faced scrutiny over a 2020 post in which she praised people who support burning down police stations.
“Good morning, especially to the 54% of Americans that believe burning down a police station is justified,” Behn posted.
Behn declined to respond, saying instead, “I’m not gonna engage in cable news talking points.&#8221;
The Daily Wire reported on her past comments on abortion as well, saying she would be willing to get arrested for her advocacy on the issue.
“We’ll continue to figure out how to get abortion pills to people. So the organizing does not stop just because Roe is overturned,” Behn said in a May 2022 conversation with the Tennessee Holler.
Another podcast clip from 2020 of her went viral, in which she said that she hates Nashville.
“I hate the city, I hate the bachelorettes, I hate the pedal taverns, I hate country music, I hate all of the things that make Nashville apparently an ‘it’ city to the rest of the country. But I hate it,” she said.
Despite her radical positions, she has won the support of prominent Democrats, including former Vice President Kamala Harris and Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett.
President Donald Trump has also waded into the race, endorsing Van Epps.
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“I am asking all America First Patriots in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, who haven’t voted yet, to please GET OUT AND VOTE for MAGA Warrior Matt Van Epps, tomorrow, November 26th, the last day to vote early in person. You can win this Election for Matt! PLEASE VOTE FOR MATT VAN EPPS, who has my Complete and Total Endorsement,” Trump posted on Tuesday night.
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Tennessee Democrat Aftyn Behn Also Wants To Abolish Prisons

Law Enforcement

Nashville

Police

The ShamWow guy wants to clean up his biggest mess yet: the woke Left. Offer Vince Shlomi, who is best known as the ShamWow infomercial host, filed Friday to run for Congress in Texas as a Republican. &#8220;ShamWow&#8221; is even listed as part of Shlomi&#8217;s official name in the <a href="https://texasgop.org/primary-filing-information/">filing records</a>.
&#8220;I&#8217;m the ShamWow guy,&#8221; Shlomi told The Daily Wire. &#8220;You want a boring politician or an exciting one?&#8221;
Shlomi said he was inspired to run after Charlie Kirk was killed.
&#8220;I feel called to stand on my beliefs and make real change in this world in his honor,&#8221; Shlomi said. &#8220;Charlie Kirk stood for what he believed in and entered himself into the fight, but more powerfully, he encouraged others to do the same.&#8221;
Shlomi admired the way Kirk stood up against &#8220;wokeism.&#8221;
&#8220;I see kids who are happy, and as they get older, they&#8217;re unhappy because they&#8217;re being subjected to wokeism.&#8221;
Shlomi thinks social media algorithms play a big role in that wokeism, something he vows to change if elected.
&#8220;Google, YouTube, and all social media companies need their codes to be open source,&#8221; Shlomi said. &#8220;The algorithms need to be fair and transparent, not biased. Google and YouTube suppress conservative views on [their] platforms and discriminate [against] anything that ridicules their woke ideology.&#8221;
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The 61-year-old is running against incumbent John Carter, as well as five other candidates looking to represent Texas&#8217; 31st District, which covers parts of Austin, Temple, and Fort Hood.
Shlomi&#8217;s campaign slogan is &#8220;Soak the Swamp.&#8221; An ode to ShamWow, the super-absorbent cleaning cloth that Shlomi made a name selling. The ShamWow commercials played throughout the early 2000s.
&#8220;I mean, I took a rag and made millions.&#8221;
The entrepreneur said his &#8220;rags to riches&#8221; experience with ShamWow makes him a natural fit for Congress.
&#8220;I am a great salesman, they say I&#8217;m the GOAT at pitching. I should be a Congressman, pitching bills that improve the Texas 31st constituents&#8217; lives. I&#8217;m not a polished politician, but I wasn&#8217;t polished when I was the pitchman either &#8212; and that&#8217;s why you loved me.&#8221;
His reputation needed a ShamWow cleanup after an incident with an alleged hooker in Miami back in 2009.
Shlomi was arrested for aggravated battery after getting into a fight with a woman at a Miami hotel. Per an <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/businessmain/shamwow-guy-cleans-his-act-8c11094914">NBC News report</a>, Shlomi struck the woman with his fists after she bit his tongue and wouldn&#8217;t let go. Prosecutors didn&#8217;t press charges.
&#8220;I was defending myself, and the public needs to know that,&#8221; Shlomi said. &#8220;It turned into a comedic story and sparked tons of rumors. I own up to the fact that I shouldn&#8217;t have put myself there.&#8221;
ShamWow Shlomi has a year to wipe out his competition for Congress. Election Day is in November 2026.

ShamWow Guy Running For Congress

‘Soak The Swamp’: ShamWow Guy Inspired By Charlie Kirk To Wipe Away Woke Ideology

Republican Party

Former Alabama Democratic Sen. Doug Jones is jumping into the state’s governor’s race, teeing up a rematch between him and Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville. The two first faced off in the 2020 U.S. Senate race, where Tuberville defeated Jones.
Jones was narrowly elected to the Senate in a 2017 special election against Republican Roy Moore, who was facing sexual misconduct accusations during his campaign. But three years later, he lost to Tuberville, who garnered more than 60% of the vote, compared to Jones&#8217;s 39.74% support. In 2022, Jones was the “sherpa” for Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson during her Senate confirmation, according to POLITICO, meaning he guided her through it.
“So I’ve made it official folks: I’ve filed the paperwork to run for Governor of Alabama. It’s time to remind this state of who we are and what we can accomplish together,” Jones, a Clinton-era former federal prosecutor, posted to X on Monday. The Democrat spent more than $32 million compared to Tuberville&#8217;s $8 million in the 2020 race, according to <a href="https://x.com/OpenSecretsDC/status/1993355855446647267?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">OpenSecrets</a>.
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Tuberville, the former Auburn University head football coach, announced in May that he would seek to become the next occupant of the Yellowhammer State’s Governor’s Mansion.
“Last time Doug Jones ran against Coach Tuberville, it didn’t go well for Doug,” Mallory Blount Jaspers, Tuberville’s communications director, posted to X.
“Coach has spent the past six months building coalitions across the state, securing endorsements from every key player in Alabama politics, and shattering fundraising records,” she added. “This race is already over — but if Comrade Doug wants to get blown out again, be our guest.”
The last Democratic governor of Alabama was Don Siegelman, who served from 1999 to 2003. If Jones were elected, he would presumably face hefty Republican majorities in both chambers of the Alabama Legislature. Thirty-six states will hold gubernatorial races next year, including highly competitive races in Arizona and Nevada.

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Tuberville Vs. Jones Again: Alabama Governor’s Race Becomes 2020 Senate Rematch

2026 election

Alabama

Doug Jones

Tommy Tuberville

Aftyn Behn, the Democratic congressional candidate for Tennessee’s 7th District, once had recurring dreams in which she screamed, “I don’t want children. I want power!”
In an audio clip posted online on Monday, Behn can be heard speaking about her sessions with her therapist and dreams she has had. She connects the dreams back to advice her mother gave her to forgo children in order to focus on a career. It was not immediately clear when the audio clip was recorded.
“My therapist always asks me to transcribe my dreams when they happen, and the recurring dream I&#8217;ve had is standing up in a cafeteria full of women – I don&#8217;t know why I was there or whatever – and saying, ‘I don&#8217;t want children. I want power!’ And just screaming it at the top of my lungs,” Behn can be heard saying.
“For someone who grew up with my mother telling me, never have kids because you will, you know, you&#8217;ll have to give up a lot. You&#8217;ll have to sacrifice professionally,” she continued.
Behn said that the political field has not “met the challenge of working moms” and added that those women who do choose marriage and a family are in “deeply patriarchal structures.”
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“I think in the South, it&#8217;s incredibly difficult to shake those [patriarchal structures], especially if you&#8217;ve grown up here and that all you&#8217;ve been told is the definition of success, the metrics of success is how many kids you have, the bigger the square footage of your house, and where your kids go to school,” Behn said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨 Democrat nominee for the upcoming TN07 special election Aftyn Behn condemns women who get married and start families&#8211; saying it&#8217;s the product of &#8220;deeply patriarchal structures&#8221;:
&#8220;My therapist always asks me to transcribe my dreams and the recurring dream I&#8217;ve had is standing… <a href="https://t.co/LTsYj0im7Q">pic.twitter.com/LTsYj0im7Q</a>
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) <a href="https://twitter.com/greg_price11/status/1993043067486527894?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
Behn, currently serving as a state representative in Tennessee, has a history of controversial comments that have undermined her campaign to represent Tennessee’s 7th District in the U.S. Congress. In another clip discovered and posted last week, the Democratic candidate said she hated the city she is running to represent.
“I hate the city, I hate the bachelorettes, I hate the pedal taverns, I hate country music, I hate all of the things that make Nashville apparently an ‘it’ city to the rest of the country. But I hate it,” she <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/music-city-fumble-dem-candidate-said-she-hates-city-she-wants-to-represent-in-congress">said</a>.
She later said that she was only venting frustrations about the tourism that comes to Nashville.
Behn is running against Republican Matt Van Epps in a special election to replace former Rep. Mark Green. The election is scheduled to be held early next week.

Tennessee Dem Candidate Aftyn Behn: ‘I Don’t Want Children. I Want Power!’

Aftyn Behn: ‘I Don’t Want Children. I Want Power!’

Democratic Party

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