Republican candidate Matt Van Epps and Democratic candidate Aftyn Behn won their respective primaries on Oct. 7 for the special election in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District. The district, which had 10 Republicans and 4 Democrats seeking the nomination, encompasses Vanderbilt’s campus. The general election between Van Epps and Behn is set for Dec. 2.
Former U.S. representative Mark Green announced on June 9 that he would resign from Congress after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was voted on in the House for a second time. In a statement posted to his social media pages, Green confirmed he would resign to begin working in the private sector.
“Recently, I was offered an opportunity in the private sector that was too exciting to pass up,” Green said in the statement. “As a result, today I notified the Speaker and the House of Representatives that I will resign from Congress as soon as the House votes once again on the reconciliation package.”
Student civic engagement
In a message to The Hustler, Melanie Gerko, co-president of Vanderbilt College Democrats, highlighted the increased engagement across campus events this semester. She believes that a shifted congressional balance can affect entire communities.
“We consistently this semester have had a strong uptick in engagement with our events, with our social media, from students, alumni and just in the broader public,” Gerko said. “[Politics is] very important to Vanderbilt students, no matter where you come from. If you’re registered to vote in this district or not, the balance of Congress affects everyone.”
Vanderbilt College Republicans did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
VandyVotes, a nonpartisan civic engagement student organization aimed at reducing barriers to voting for students from all 50 states, has been tabling outside of Rand Hall during peak lunch hours. VandyVotes president Yotam Peer said that while they do not have specific metrics on engagement, every day new students are registered to vote, similarly to what was seen during last year’s presidential election.
“In the lead up to the 2024 election, we got a ton of people to register to vote and then we actually offered Lyft codes for students if they need[ed] to reach their poll[ing] place,” Peer said.
Primary election campaigns
Matt Van Epps, the Republican nominee, served as Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services from 2024 to 2025. His candidacy for the seat was supported by Green, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and President Donald Trump. Van Epps became the frontrunner following the president’s endorsement on Oct. 3.
Van Epps’ campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Aftyn Behn, the Democratic nominee, is the state representative for Tennessee’s 51st district, which includes downtown Nashville.
Behn’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In a message to The Hustler, Bo Mitchell, one of the primary candidates, spoke about his worries for Vanderbilt students and his goals as a representative.
“One of my sons is a Vanderbilt student, and I don’t want this to be the country that we’re leaving to my kids, Vanderbilt graduates, or any other young people,” Mitchell said. “I’ll be a representative focused on the economic issues facing the people of this district, including healthcare costs, rising prices, unaffordable housing, and a lack of opportunities after graduation.”
Vincent Dixie, another primary candidate, said it was important for him to be a representative who would stay connected to his constituents. He hoped to work closely with the Vanderbilt community on issues affecting students.
“The best way to represent Vanderbilt is to stay connected — by listening, showing up, and keeping the conversation going. I want to hear directly from students, faculty, and staff about what’s happening on campus and how federal policies affect your lives,” Dixie said. “That means holding town halls, visiting campus often, and keeping an open line of communication. If something matters to the Vanderbilt community, it matters to me.”
