Democrats across the country made a last-ditch push for Tennessee Democrat Aftyn Behn on Monday night, hoping for what they openly admit would take a “miracle” in Tuesday’s special election. When even Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez admits the odds are that bad, you know things are rough.
Behn, running against Republican Matt Van Epps in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional district, held a Zoom rally featuring some of the Left’s biggest names — former Vice President Al Gore, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Rep. Pramila Jayapal among them. The event drew about 1,200 attendees, many of whom were tuning in from out of state, judging from the chat messages. Because nothing says “local grassroots support” quite like a crowd beaming in from who-knows-where.
Ocasio-Cortez admitted Democrats would need a “miracle” to flip the deep-red district blue, but insisted Behn’s performance so far shows that “miracles still happen.” The democratic socialist encouraged Tennessee Democrats to stay hopeful that candidates like Behn can push left-wing policies even in conservative states as the party sets its sights on the 2026 midterms. Hope springs eternal — especially when reality isn’t cooperating.
Behn, however, hasn’t exactly been running as a moderate. She previously voiced support for abolishing police departments and expressed that she was “fearful” for “trans communities” after a trans-identifying shooter murdered three Christian schoolchildren and three staff members in Nashville. An interesting choice of priorities, to say the least, for someone trying to win a district Trump carried by 22 points in 2024.
During the rally, the Democrats barely mentioned Behn’s Republican opponent. Instead, they spent most of their time attacking President Donald Trump and his administration, positioning the race as a referendum on Trump’s agenda. Apparently, they believe this strategy will help in a Trump-heavy district — a bold approach, or maybe just the only card they know how to play.
The virtual rally started off with some classic Democratic chaos when Al Gore was introduced… and didn’t appear. After an uncomfortable silence, he finally popped onto the screen for a second introduction. Gore used his time to claim that the Trump White House was one of the most evil and corrupt administrations in U.S. history — because of course he did.
Meanwhile, Republicans held their own rally earlier Monday, where GOP leaders emphasized the importance of the race and expressed confidence that Van Epps will come out on top. They also acknowledged that the final margin may be tighter than past elections, according to reporting from The Daily Wire.
Both parties have poured millions into the special election. Behn raised over $1 million between October 1 and November 12, while Van Epps raised $591,000 in the same period. However, Van Epps is receiving major support from Trump-aligned outside groups, which have spent over a million dollars on ads.
More than 84,000 Tennesseans cast ballots during early voting from November 12–26, and many more on both sides are expected to vote on Tuesday. A new poll released Monday by Emerson College and The Hill showed Van Epps with a narrow 2-point lead — close, but still ahead.
And while Democrats dream of a miraculous upset, Republicans remain energized, organized, and ready for victory — proving once again that when voters show up, good things happen for America.
