Republican congressional nominee Matt Van Epps greets supporters outside a polling station on Election Day in Franklin, Tennessee, on Dec. 2, 2025. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)
And there's a divide among Democrats, with moderates questioning whether Behn, who was dubbed the "AOC of Tennessee" in a comparison to progressive champion Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., was too far to the left for the district — which is located in central and western Tennessee, stretching from Kentucky to Alabama, and including parts of Nashville.
With so much on the line, outside groups aligned with both parties shelled out millions of dollars to run ads in the race. And the DNC and the rival Republican National Committee (RNC) each poured resources into the showdown, which included dispatching staffers onto the campaign trail.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., spent the entire day on election eve with Van Epps, joining the GOP nominee at a slew of rallies and stops across the district. He was joined by RNC Chair Joe Gruters.
Van Epps, a military combat veteran who piloted helicopters and former commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services, said in his victory speech that his win "represented a defining moment for Tennessee and for the direction of the country."
Democratic congressional nominee Aftyn Behn speaks to supporters at a party office on election eve, in Franklin, Tennessee, on Dec. 1, 2025. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)
"She does not represent the values of Tennessee or of America. She is as far left as you can get. She's a radical," Van Epps claimed in a Fox News Digital interview.
Johnson argued on Monday that Behn was a "radical" and "a dangerous far leftist. And she will be a rubber stamp for Hakeem Jeffries and AOC and all the radicals in Congress."
Simon Bazelon of the Welcome PAC, a Democrat-aligned group which advocates for moderate candidates, called Behn "a missed opportunity."
"Democrats in red districts can’t just talk affordability and hope voters don't notice they walk left on everything else. If candidates don't match their district, Republicans will make sure the voters know. Despite a well-run race and significant investment, Tennessee voters knew Aftyn Behn did not share their views," he argued.
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But Behn, hours before the election was called, told Fox News Digital, "I think the electorate is shifting to accept a candidate like me that has a progressive track record."
And Behn said she's seen "so many young people coming up to me to say they’re running for office because this race has inspired them to do so."
Fox News' Asher Redd contributed to this story.
Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in the swing state of New Hampshire. He covers the campaign trail from coast to coast."
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/democrats-surge-tennessee-throws-new-uncertainty-onto-gops-2026-house-map