Tennessee Special Election: Tennessee’s 7th District Results, Polls, and Closing Times (Dec. 3, 2025)

Voters in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District cast ballots on Tuesday, Dec. 2, to replace former Rep. Mark Green. As of early Wednesday morning, Dec. 3 (Cairo time), no official winner had been declared and the count remained underway. Recent updates indicate a close contest between Republican Matt Van Epps and Democrat Aftyn Behn; details may evolve as additional counties report.

When do polls close in Tennessee?

Polling places in the 7th District closed at 7:00 p.m. Central Time (8:00 p.m. ET) on Tuesday. Because the district spans Central-time counties, most votes began reporting shortly after 8 p.m. ET, with later-arriving precincts and absentee/provisional ballots extending the tally into the night.

Who is on the ballot in the Tennessee 7th District special election?

• Matt Van Epps (R): Former Army pilot and a former state cabinet official. Backed by key national Republican figures and aligned groups in the final stretch.

• Aftyn Behn (D): State representative from Nashville with a background in social work and grassroots organizing. Drew significant small-dollar fundraising and high-profile Democratic surrogates.

• Minor/independent candidates: A handful of independents qualified, but the race has functioned as a two-person contest in most polling and spending.

Latest polling and momentum

Public polling heading into Election Day suggested a single-digit race, with one late survey showing Van Epps narrowly ahead within the margin of error and another indicating a statistical tie once leaners were included. Early voters trended more favorable to Behn, while day-of voters leaned toward Van Epps—an expected split that made final turnout patterns decisive.

Key factors shaping the late polls:

• Turnout mix: Suburbs in Williamson and Montgomery Counties versus rural West Tennessee counties.

• Partisan enthusiasm: High-intensity national attention on both sides; Republicans emphasized public safety and immigration, Democrats focused on cost of living and health care.

• Cash and air cover: Millions in outside spending boosted name ID and hardened partisan lines, but also raised the likelihood of a polarized, base-driven finish.

What to watch as results continue

1. Davidson/Williamson/Montgomery trinity: Behn sought to post big margins with Nashville-area voters and remain competitive in fast-growing suburbs; Van Epps aimed to blunt those margins while maximizing rural totals.

2. Election Day vs. early vote: If same-day turnout outpaced early vote in rural counties, it would typically benefit Republicans; high early-vote shares around Nashville favored Democrats.

3. Provisionals/late absentees: These seldom reverse large margins but can matter in a razor-thin race.

4. Timing of county reports: Some rural counties report quickly; larger counties can release in waves, producing swings as precincts drop.

Why Tennessee’s 7th District became competitive

After the 2020 census, the Nashville area was split among multiple GOP-leaning districts. In a low-turnout, off-cycle special election, that map can produce surprising dynamics: a Democrat consolidating urban and inner-suburban voters while a Republican banks on broad but thinner margins across many rural counties. Demographic shifts in the Nashville corridor and a post-midterms national mood added volatility to a seat long considered safely Republican.

Stakes for control of the U.S. House

With the House closely divided, even a single seat changes the governing math. A Van Epps win would reinforce the GOP’s hold and provide a morale boost after several Democratic overperformances in recent special contests. A Behn upset would jolt the national landscape, signaling risk for Republicans in other red-leaning, fast-growing districts heading into 2026.

Timeline and what’s next

• Dec. 2 (Election Day): Polls closed at 7 p.m. CT / 8 p.m. ET; first waves of results posted thereafter.

• Late evening–overnight: Additional precincts and absentee counts updated; no certified winner as of early Dec. 3 (Cairo time).

• Certification: County canvasses and state certification to follow standard procedures. If the margin is exceptionally tight, expect added scrutiny of provisional and late-arriving eligible ballots.

Quick answers to common searches

• “Tennessee special election results” / “TN special election”: Vote counting continued overnight; no call had been made as of early Dec. 3 (Cairo time).

• “Aftyn Behn polls” / “Matt Van Epps polls”: Final pre-election polling pointed to a narrow race within the margin of error.

• “When do polls close in Tennessee?” 7 p.m. CT (8 p.m. ET) in this district.

• “Tennessee 7th District” / “Tennessee elections”: The district covers 14 counties in Middle and West Tennessee, including a portion of the Nashville area; this off-cycle race was triggered by a mid-year resignation.