Politics

Candidates Face Off in Tennessee Special Election Amid Scrutiny of Past Remarks

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Nov 26, 2025

THE BARE STORY

A special congressional election is set for December 2 in a Tennessee district to fill a seat vacated by Republican congressman Mark Green, who resigned in July. The race pits Democratic nominee Aftyn Behn, a state representative, against Republican nominee Matt Van Epps, a former commissioner in the governor's administration. The district has previously been described as overwhelmingly supportive of Donald Trump, with one summary noting it favored him by 22 points in the last election.

The campaign has drawn attention over past social media posts attributed to Behn. Her Republican opponent, Van Epps, has reportedly challenged her over the resurfaced posts, which one source described as "anti-police." According to one summary, a since-deleted post from June 2020 showed Behn suggesting white candidates should consider dropping out of races against minority opponents. Behn later won a four-way Democratic primary, defeating Vincent Dixie, who was the only black candidate in the race.

Further details from the summaries describe other deleted posts attributed to Behn. One reportedly from 2020 showed her stating she "hated Nashville," while another was said to have addressed Americans who believed burning down a police station was justified. Another post allegedly showed her advocating for the dissolution of Nashville's police department. At a candidate forum in September, Dixie reportedly questioned Behn on how she would ensure black constituents have a voice.

Behn is backed by the Knoxville chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, according to one summary. It also stated that Vice President Kamala Harris appeared with Behn on the campaign trail last week. Neither Behn nor Dixie responded to requests for comment for one of the source articles.

Same Facts. Different Perspectives.

Two AI models. Two viewpoints. One factual foundation.

Perspective by Grok

• The nominee secured her party's candidacy by winning a contested primary. Aftyn Behn is the Democratic nominee after winning a four-way primary for the special election. She defeated a field that included Vincent Dixie, who was the only black candidate in the race.

• The campaign has received backing from prominent political figures and groups. The article notes that Vice President Kamala Harris appeared with Behn on the campaign trail, signaling significant support from the party. Furthermore, Behn is backed by the Knoxville chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, according to one summary.

• She is a major party candidate in a special election for a congressional seat. As the Democratic nominee, Behn is facing off against Republican Matt Van Epps in the December 2 election to fill a seat vacated by a Republican congressman. Despite the district being described as overwhelmingly supportive of Donald Trump, her campaign has advanced to the final stage of the election.

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader:

• The winner of this election will hold a seat in Congress, contributing a vote to their party's caucus on national laws and policies.

• A candidate with past remarks about dissolving a police department could, if elected, influence national debates on law enforcement funding and public safety.

• The result in a district described as strongly pro-Trump may be viewed as a signal of voter sentiment ahead of future national elections.

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