Tennessee Democrats are investigating postcards allegedly sent to voters with an incorrect date for the upcoming special election between Democrat Aftyn Behn and Republican Matt Van Epps.
A spokesperson for the Tennessee secretary of state’s office told Newsweek on Wednesday that the office has seen the screenshots of the mailers allegedly sent to voters, but that voters have not contacted them about the matter.
Newsweek reached out to the Tennessee Democratic Party via email and the Tennessee GOP via contact form for comment.
Why It Matters
The special election in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District has drawn significant investment from both major parties. It is viewed as being potentially competitive, despite President Donald Trump carrying the district by more than 20 points against former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. The district comprises parts of Nashville and its suburbs, as well as Clarksville and more rural areas.
The outcome of the special election could have key implications for control of the House of Representatives, where Republicans hold a 219-213 majority. The resignation of Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, in January will bring that to 218-213, and it could get more narrow in the coming months following special elections in more Democratic-leaning districts. If Behn pulls off a victory, it would further shrink the GOP’s majority.
What to Know
Turnout will be key to how close the special election becomes. If turnout is lower in the district’s rural areas but higher in Democratic-leaning Nashville, Democrats would have a better chance of flipping the seat next Tuesday. But if turnout is closer to typical election levels, Republicans would be favored.
Rachel Campbell, the chair of the Tennessee Democratic Party, said in a video posted on Facebook on Saturday that the party is investigating reports that some voters have received materials containing inaccurate information about the election date.
“Just breaking into the game briefly to say that we have heard the reports of fraudulent dates being circulated,” she said in the video. “While we are looking at who may be distributing these, it’s important to remember that Election Day is December 2.”
D. Patrick Rodgers, editor-in-chief of the newspaper Nashville Scene, posted photos on Bluesky of alleged mailers urging residents to vote for Behn on December 3, one day after the election will have already taken place.
The mailers have “no attribution or return address” and are being sent to voters in Nashville, he wrote.
“Mark your calendars & make a plan to vote on December 3rd,” the mailer reads.
The origins of the flyers remained unclear.
On Wednesday, a poll from Emerson College showed Behn trailing Van Epps by only 2 points (49 percent to 47 percent). It surveyed 600 likely voters from November 22-24 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.
What People Are Saying
The Tennessee Holler wrote to X: “Wowwww… so dirty. Mailers with the wrong Election Date. @aftynfortn Behn making Republicans get desperate.”
William Lyons, professor at the Howard Baker School of Public Affairs at the University of Tennessee, previously told Newsweek: “With Congress so evenly divided every contest is critical. Parties will continue to commit significant resources to marginally competitive districts like the Tennessee 7th, hoping to either cause or prevent an upset that would have national consequences. Concerns about representation of district-specific issues are taking a back seat.”
What Happens Next
Behn and Van Epps will make their final efforts to get their supporters to the polls over the coming days before the election next Tuesday. The Cook Political Report classifies the race as “Likely Republican.”
