Turning the Tide: Why Knox County Democrats Should Care About the TN-07 Special Election
Every once in a while, politics gives us an unexpected opening to change the narrative. That's exactly what's happening in Tennessee's 7th Congressional District, where a special election has created a rare opportunity for Democrats to win a seat months before the 2026 cycle even begins. The seat opened up when Mark Green announced his resignation in July 2025 to take a job in the private sector.
A special election is held when a sitting member of Congress leaves office before their term is over. Instead of waiting for the next regular election cycle, voters get to choose a new representative right away. In this case, it means Tennesseans have a chance to elect a new member of Congress months before the rest of the country goes to the polls in 2026.
That matters - a lot. Because early wins like this one don't just fill a vacant seat; they build momentum. They send a message that progress is possible, even in places where people say it can't be done. A victory in TN-07 would be a spark - a sign that Tennessee Democrats are ready to start flipping seats and reclaiming power in Washington, one district at a time.
A Seat That Belongs to All of Us
Now, if you live here in Knox County, you might be thinking: That's middle and west Tennessee. Why should I care?
TN-07 covers parts of Middle Tennessee, including Davidson, Williamson, and Dickson counties, stretching west through rural communities. While Knox County sits outside this district, the representation matters to all of us.
Because representation in Congress affects every single Tennessean. The votes cast in TN-07 will influence healthcare, infrastructure funding, workers' rights, and the everyday cost of living - issues that ripple across the entire state.
When Democrats win in any Tennessee district, we all win a stronger voice. Supporting this race isn't just about one district - it's about solidarity. It's about showing that from Memphis to Knoxville, we're united in the fight for a fairer, healthier, and more hopeful Tennessee.
Meet Aftyn Behn - A Fighter from Knoxville
Aftyn Behn is a Knoxville native, a community organizer, and a current state lawmaker who's spent her career standing up for working families and rural Tennesseans.
She's fought to keep rural and public hospitals open, led efforts to eliminate the state's grocery tax, and worked to shift power away from corporate special interests and back into the hands of everyday people.
In Congress, she'll fight to:
Expand Medicaid federally so states like Tennessee can't keep rejecting lifesaving care.
Cap insulin and prescription drug prices by expanding Medicare's power to negotiate.
Ensure infrastructure funding reaches rural and working-class communities, not just wealthy developers.
Update federal poverty measures so families actually qualify for the help they need.
Invest in clean energy, broadband, and sustainable infrastructure to connect every Tennessean to opportunity.
Aftyn's from Knoxville. She understands our values — and she's ready to take them to Washington.
Who She's Up Against — And Why It Matters
Her opponent, Matt Van Epps, is the epitome of what we don't need more of in Congress, a Trump-endorsed Republican backed by big-money interests and committed to the same agenda that's left working people behind. He supports school voucher programs that drain public school funding, trade policies that raise costs for farmers and families, and healthcare cuts that would hit rural communities hardest.
If we sit this one out, that's the vision that takes hold and its consequences will reach far beyond one district.
How You Can Help
You don't have to live in TN-07 to make a difference. Every call, every dollar, every conversation counts.
Here's how you can help right now:
Visit aftynforcongress.com to donate, volunteer, or learn more about her campaign.
Join the remote phone bank (www.mobilize.us/aftynforcongress) to reach voters right from home.
Share Aftyn's story on social media, and remind your friends that change in Tennessee starts with us.
2025 Election Timeline
Voter Registration Deadline: November 3, 2025
Early Voting: November 12 – 26, 2025
Election Day: December 2, 2025
How We Can Win
We can win this special election but only if we treat it like the opportunity it is.
Special elections are notorious for low voter turnout, and that's exactly why this one is within reach. When turnout is low, every vote, every volunteer shift, every conversation matters more. In other words, a small but organized effort can completely change the outcome.
Knox County may be outside the 7th Congressional District, but we can still be the deciding factor. Our volunteers, our phone banks, our donations, our outreach, that's how we build the momentum that wins races like this. Every call that reminds someone their vote counts, every ride offered to the polls, every social media share — it all adds up.
The Democratic primary in August showed just how close we can get, Aftyn lost by only 8 points to her primary opponent, demonstrating real grassroots energy and proving that Tennessee voters are hungry for her message. Now, in the general election, that momentum can carry us across the finish line.
When we show up, we flip the narrative. We remind the state that Tennessee Democrats are organized, motivated, and ready to fight for progress. And in a special election like this one, where the margins are razor-thin, we have the numbers to turn the tide — if we actually turn out.
So yes — the odds look steep on paper. But we know the secret: when Democrats organize and mobilize with the same energy we brought to key races in 2024, we don't just compete — we can win.
This Is Our Moment
This special election is more than just a chance to fill a seat, it's a opportunity to come together and help ignite something bigger than a single race. Even if we don't win this time, a strong showing sends a message to other progressives that running for office is possible, inspiring more candidates at the local and state level. We can remind the nation that even in Tennessee, change begins with those willing to believe it's possible and willing to work for it.
Aftyn Behn is one of us. She's from here, she fights for us, and she's ready to take that fight to Washington. Let's help her get there.