Republican fears mount over Tennessee special election that could leave GOP House majority with zero-vote margin

GOP Fears Mount Over Tennessee Special Election as Minority Majority at Stake

Republicans are growing increasingly worried over a special election in Tennessee's 7th Congressional District next month, where the outcome could potentially leave the GOP House majority with a razor-thin margin. Historically, this district has been a safe seat for Republicans, but a recent poll suggests that the tide may be turning.

Firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's (R-Ga.) retirement announcement is adding to the stakes, as Democrats eye a potential upset victory in Tennessee District 7. If they succeed in winning their two vacated seats in special elections, the GOP's House majority could dwindle to just one vote.

The situation is particularly alarming for Republicans given that they've often had at least one defection from Libertarian-leaning Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) in the past year. Additionally, if any other representative retires early, it could further erode their already slim majority.

According to a shock survey by Emerson College Polling and The Hill, the race is neck-and-neck, with Republican Matt Van Epps trailing Democrat Aftyn Behn – nicknamed "AOC of Tennessee" – by just 48% to 46%. This margin is within the poll's margin of error, leaving Republicans on high alert.

Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) has expressed concern about the election's implications for the GOP House majority, saying, "It’s a razor-thin margin." He also warned that if Democrats win, it could be "devastating" for the party.

National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Reilly Richardson dismissed concerns by stating, "Matt Van Epps will be a member of Congress." However, some left-leaning operatives believe Republicans are engaging in a ploy to gin up turnout and undermine what they expect will be significant Democratic overperformance.

A national Democratic strategist working on House races believes that if Democrats win the Tennessee seat, it would prove that the GOP's agenda is "historically unpopular even in deep Trump country." This view is reinforced by the recent special election in Florida, where Rep. Randy Fine (R) won by a relatively narrow margin despite GOP handwringing.

Trump has urged voters in Tennessee District 7 to back Matt Van Epps, but Republican anxiety persists given the district's previous history and Greene's retirement announcement.

omg, this is getting intense! if democrats can win that seat they'll basically have control of congress lol just imagine it, aoc in tennessee gotta keep an eye on this one, could be a game changer for the dems

this whole thing is crazy man... like what even happened to the gop's house majority? they went from being super comfy with that seat in tennessee to now having a razor thin margin... it's like democrats just found their mojo or something and matt van epps is actually putting up a fight against aftyn behn aka "aoc of tennessee" who btw sounds super charismatic anyways i'm low-key rooting for the democrat candidate, but we'll see how this all plays out... it's gonna be an interesting election season

I'm getting really anxious about this election . If Democrats win both of these special elections, it could be disastrous for the GOP House majority. They're already struggling to hold onto seats like this one in Tennessee. I think the recent poll that shows Matt Van Epps trailing Aftyn Behn by just 2% is a wake-up call for Republicans. They need to take action to address the issues that are driving people away from their party.

It's also interesting to see how Trump is urging voters to back Van Epps, but Republicans still seem uncertain about the outcome. I think this shows that even within the GOP, there's a sense of unease and uncertainty about their ability to hold onto power. The fact that Democrats are calling out the GOP agenda as "historically unpopular" is also telling - it suggests that there's a growing recognition among voters that the party's policies aren't resonating.

Ultimately, I think this special election in Tennessee is a canary in the coal mine for Republicans. If they can't hold onto seats like this one, it raises big questions about their ability to govern effectively.

OMG, can you believe this? Republicans are freaking out over this special election in Tennessee and it's like they're not even expecting a chance to win! I mean, Matt Van Epps is only trailing by 2% and that's within the margin of error. What if he wins?!?! That would be huge for Democrats and could totally flip their House majority. And let's be real, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's retirement announcement is like a big wake-up call for Republicans. They've got to start taking this seriously ASAP!

The GOP is having some major anxiety over this special election in Tennessee... It's like they're trying to hold onto a straw that's about to break. The fact that the poll shows it's neck-and-neck is crazy, especially with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene retiring and all. I mean, if Democrats win both of the vacated seats, it could be game over for their slim majority...

omg, this is like, soooo crazy!!! the republican party is freaking out over a special election in tennessee and it's not even surprising lol. marjorie taylor greene's retirement is like the final nail in the coffin for them. if democrats win their two seats, the gop house majority could be toast they've been trying to spin this as a republican thing but it's hard to deny the facts. i mean, matt van epps is literally trailing by only 2% and that's within the margin of error. it's like, what are republicans even doing? trying to gin up turnout on their own side? anyway, i think it's awesome that democrats have got a shot at this and if they win, it'll be a major blow to the gop's agenda

I'm like super nervous about this election ... I mean, I really think it's gonna be a landslide for Aftyn Behn , but also can we talk about how Republicans are freaking out way too much? Like, chill, guys? It's just one district. And what if Matt Van Epps does win and proves people wrong ... but at the same time, isn't it kinda weird that Democrats are so hyped up about this? Maybe they're just trying to stir up drama ... or maybe I'm just being too cautious . Ugh, my head is spinning !

I'm feeling really nervous about this election! The polls are super tight and if Democrats win it could be a huge blow to the GOP. I mean, we've seen what happens when people get fed up with politics . It's not just Tennessee though, this is a national trend where people are rejecting the status quo. Matt Van Epps has been doing some cool work in the district and I think he's got a good shot at winning. But you never know, anything can happen on election day! Let's all hope for a peaceful and fair process

this is getting intense if dems win that seat it could really thin out rep party majority ... idk man what's going on with matt van epps his campaign strategy seems kinda weak

omg u gotta believe what's gonna happen in TN 7!! it's like they're playing with fire here - if dems take this seat, it's game over for republicans and i'm low-key kinda rooting for aftyn behn aka "aoc of tennessee" - she's got the fire and the energy i mean, rep tim burchett is worried? what's he worried about? loss of face or what? anywayz, matt van epps better step up his game if he wanna stay in this seat

omg u guys idk wut is happenin in TN they're worried cuz a rep is retirin & it could leave them w/ like ONE vote lol that means dems could take over anyway i think matt van epps got this!! he's still got like 50% of the vote & that's more than enough 4 him to win, imo

This is getting out of hand ... if Republicans lose even one more seat, their majority is done for . I mean, come on, folks, don't they think we're watching? A Democrat wins in Tennessee District 7 and suddenly the entire party flips? That's just not how it works. It's like they're trying to make this whole thing up as they go along . Newsflash: Republicans need to get their act together if they want to stay relevant .

I'm not surprised to see the GOP getting anxious over this special election in Tennessee . It just goes to show how unpredictable politics can be, especially when it comes to rural districts like TN-7. I've lived long enough to remember when Democrats were a rarity in that state, but times seem to be changing .

It's also interesting to see the contrast between Trump's enthusiasm for Matt Van Epps and the actual polls . It just goes to show how out of touch some folks can be with reality.

What worries me more is the national implications of this election. If Democrats do win in Tennessee, it could set a precedent for other districts that have traditionally been Republican stronghold . And if the GOP House majority does dwindle, it'll be interesting to see how they respond .

[Grumpy Cat holding a " thin ice" sign ]

I'm not sure if this is a good thing for the GOP, but it's definitely keeping things interesting . I mean, we've seen some tight elections in the past and Republicans are getting worked up about the possibility of losing their majority. Marjorie Taylor Greene's retirement does add an extra layer of unpredictability to the situation.

I'm not convinced that Matt Van Epps is going to magically turn around his campaign, but at the same time, Aftyn Behn is definitely a strong candidate and her nickname "AOC of Tennessee" isn't helping the GOP . It's also worth noting that if Republicans start to lose their seats, it could be because they're not connecting with voters on issues or because they're too far out of touch.

I'm intrigued by the idea that Democrats might actually win both vacated seats in special elections and for them to prove that the GOP's agenda is unpopular even in Trump country . It would definitely be a wake-up call for Republicans.

omg u think its surprising that republicans r worried bout losin a seat they've had for years? like, come on! it's not like this is gonna be a landslide democrat win or anything. some poll says its neck and neck, but who knows what ppl r really thinkin? and btw if democrats r expectin an upset, maybe u shd focus on findin out why republicans r losin voters in the first place