Williamson County District 7 Voters Heavily Favor Van Epps

Williamson County voters heavily favored Republican Matt Van Epps over Democrat Aftyn Behn in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District special election Tuesday night, and now both local parties are preparing for a consequential 2026 midterm election.

Van Epps defeated Behn 96,988 votes to 81,044 votes. In Williamson County, Van Epps earned 16,886 votes (8,761 on Election Day and 8,031 during early voting), while Behn earned 10,608 votes (4,049 on election day and 6,412 during early voting).

Van Epps outperformed Behn in 13 of the 14 counties, with Behn only winning Davidson County (32,933 to 9,135 votes), which in 2022 was split into three congressional districts by way of Republican gerrymandering. Williamson County is split between two congressional districts, the 7th and 5th. Van Epps will be sworn into office on Thursday morning in Washington D.C.

“A hard-fought victory such as this did not simply happen — it was the result of weeks of hard work by dedicated people, and the commitment of the Republican base here in Williamson County,” Williamson County Republican Party Chairman Steve Hickey said in part in a news release.

“We are pleased with the results, but aware of the motivation of the opposing party going into crucial 2026 county and midterm elections. We encourage Republican voters to savor this victory, but prepare for these important contests that will require not just voter engagement, but talent and treasure to be successful. There is no off season in politics.”

Despite Behn’s loss, Democrats across Tennessee and the nation remain energized, with Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin characterizing the election as a “blaring warning sign.” Per the Associated Press, U.S. Senator (R-Texas) Ted Cruz told Fox News that the GOP has to “set out the alarm bells,” and warned, “We could have lost this district.”

The risks and opportunities of the midterms are not lost on the local parties, with both the WCRP and the Williamson County Democratic Party preparing for a slew of elections at the local, state and federal level in 2026, including for Williamson County mayor and governor.

“Issues like affordability, healthcare and caring for our neighbors are important to voters. It [the special election] also demonstrates that the fever is breaking for a lot of Tennesseans who see that MAGA can’t deliver what they promised,” WCDP Vice Chair Jody Barnwell Smith tells the Williamson Scene. “While ultimately we didn't overcome the 22-point difference, narrowing to single digits at midterm turnout levels shows us what’s possible with even greater investment.”

“We anticipate growing even more rapidly than we have since the election in November of 2024,” she added. "We’re in full recruitment mode for 2026, and we’re proud to be one of the most supportive county parties in Tennessee for candidates. We will continue to prioritize community outreach and caring for our neighbors.”

According to the Williamson County Election Commission, Franklin’s First Presbyterian Church was the busiest polling place with 2,132 ballots cast, followed by Legacy Middle School with 1,879 ballots cast, and the Williamson County Enrichment Center, which saw 1,832 ballots cast. Williamson County showed the highest percentage of voter turnout in all of District 7.

Williamson County Election Administrator Chad Gray tells the Williamson Scene that his office expects both “a great deal of interest” and a “reasonably normal election year” in 2026, noting that several state constitutional amendments will also be on the ballot in November 2026.

“We will continue to evaluate the need for more poll officials and encourage anyone who is interested to consider serving,” Gray says. “Early voting will most likely follow the same pattern as in years past, with not less than seven early voting sites situated around the county for each election. Since our equipment was purchased in 2023, we should have adequate voting equipment at this time.”