Trump Tells Tennessee GOP to Show Up for Special Election

Time for Tennesseans to turn up.

President Trump called the special election to fill former GOP Rep. Mark Green’s Tennessee seat a “big deal,” saying he wants Republicans to outperform his own 2024 margins in the district.

Trump made the remarks during a Monday night tele-rally for Matt Van Epps, the Republican candidate facing Democrat Aftyn Behn in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District.

Voters head to the polls Tuesday in a race that has drawn millions in outside spending, as Democrats believe they have a chance 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 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,’” he added. “I want Matt to do better than me, even.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who spent Monday in Tennessee campaigning with Van Epps, also joined the tele-rally.

“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 urged his supporters to turn out in force.

“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 wrote. “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 Monday, Trump called into a rally in Franklin, Tennessee, where Johnson, Republican Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty, and GOP Gov. Bill Lee were campaigning for Van Epps.

“It’s all going to come down to the numbers, and my friends, the Democrats have seen an opportunity,” Hagerty said. “They’re counting on us to slide into December 2 having enjoyed Thanksgiving and not thinking that this seat is at risk.”

“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 held her own virtual rally Monday night, featuring appearances from former Vice President Al Gore and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). Democrats hope for a high turnout in parts of Nashville and lower GOP participation in rural counties.

Fox News contributor and Outkick cofounder Clay Travis spoke with Sean Hannity about the importance of the special election. Travis, who lives in Tennessee, said he “cannot have this crazy chick representing me.”

Behn is reportedly left of even far-left darlings like AOC.

Watch the clip below:

I voted this morning in the Tennessee 7th congressional district for @MattForTN. We have to crush the AOC of Tennessee and send a message that defund the police and trans surgeries for minors doesn’t work in this state. Go vote today, please! pic.twitter.com/Om1UUoAzqv

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) December 2, 2025