The battle lines in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District couldn’t be clearer. On one side stands Matt Van Epps, a West Point graduate and combat veteran who flew helicopters in Iraq and Afghanistan defending American freedom. On the other sits Aftyn Behn, a Democratic Socialist-endorsed activist whose radical resume includes harassing ICE agents and displaying open hostility toward Christianity—the very faith that helped forge our constitutional republic.
This special election represents far more than a local political contest. It’s a referendum on whether Tennessee voters will choose proven military leadership or reward the kind of performative radicalism that has turned once-great American cities into laboratories for socialist failure.
Van Epps brings the steady hand of someone who has actually served something greater than himself. His military service in two combat theaters demonstrates the kind of selfless leadership that built America into the world’s beacon of liberty. Compare that to his opponent’s record of disrupting government operations and actively obstructing the law enforcement officers tasked with securing our borders.
The economic implications of this choice extend well beyond Tennessee’s borders. Nashville has become a regional powerhouse precisely because it embraces the free-market principles that Van Epps champions. Meanwhile, Behn’s endorsement by the Democratic Socialists of America signals her allegiance to the same tax-and-spend policies that have driven businesses and families to flee progressive strongholds across the nation.
Consider the profound irony: while Van Epps was risking his life to defend American interests overseas, his opponent was building a political career around harassing the very ICE agents who protect American communities from criminal aliens. This fundamental difference in respect for law enforcement reveals everything voters need to know about each candidate’s commitment to public safety and constitutional order.
The cultural stakes are equally significant. Van Epps’s Christian faith aligns perfectly with Tennessee’s heritage and the Judeo-Christian values that informed our Founding Fathers’ vision of ordered liberty. His opponent’s documented hostility toward Christianity represents the secular left’s ongoing assault on the moral foundation that makes American freedom possible.
This race also highlights the Democratic Party’s continued drift away from working-class Americans. While Van Epps understands that American strength flows from secure borders, constitutional governance, and economic freedom, Behn’s radical positioning—from supporting biological males in women’s sports to actively obstructing immigration enforcement—demonstrates how completely modern Democrats have abandoned mainstream American values.
The broader strategic implications are unmistakable. If America First candidates can prevail in traditionally competitive districts by highlighting the left’s extremism, it signals a potential acceleration of the political realignment that began with President Trump’s movement. Working families are increasingly recognizing that the progressive agenda serves elite interests while undermining the economic opportunities and cultural stability that middle-class Americans depend upon.
Van Epps’s military background also brings crucial perspective to foreign policy challenges. Having served on the front lines of America’s global commitments, he understands both the importance of projecting strength and the folly of endless nation-building experiments that drain resources while neglecting domestic priorities.
The choice facing Tennessee voters mirrors the broader decision confronting America: will we reward authentic leadership rooted in service and constitutional principles, or will we enable the theatrical radicalism that has produced crime-ridden cities, economic stagnation, and cultural chaos wherever it gains power?
Patriots nationwide should watch this race closely. A Van Epps victory would demonstrate that voters are ready to reject the progressive overreach that has characterized the Biden era. It would signal growing support for candidates who understand that American greatness depends on secure borders, respect for law enforcement, and policies that strengthen rather than undermine our constitutional foundations.
Tennessee has always been a state that honors military service and constitutional governance. Matt Van Epps represents both traditions, offering voters the chance to send a combat veteran to Congress who will fight as hard for American families as he once fought for American freedom overseas.
