Which candidates qualified or are running in the December 2, 2025 special election?

1. Who is on the ballot: the short list

Local and national election trackers list Aftyn Behn (D), Matt Van Epps (R), and four independent candidates as the qualified slate for the special general election on December 2, 2025 ^{[2] [1]}. Ballotpedia repeats that description in both a news item and the district page; Nashville/Davidson County election information likewise signals the December 2 special general election for U.S. House District 7 ^{[2] [1] [4]}. The Tennessee Secretary of State’s special election page confirms the scheduled general election date ^[3].

2. How those nominees were chosen and filing context

Tennessee held a special Republican primary on October 7, 2025 (Ballotpedia’s district page and related coverage list candidates who ran in that Republican primary) and the statewide filing deadline for the special election was October 7, 2025, per the district coverage ^{[5] [1]}. Ballotpedia and other trackers indicate the party nominees emerged through the state’s primary process and independents qualified for the special general; the Secretary of State’s site points voters to the special-election resources for District 7 ^{[3] [1]}. Available sources do not list the names of all four independents on the ballot in the provided snippets; Ballotpedia’s summary notes “four independent candidates” without giving their roster in the cited excerpts ^{[2] [1]}.

3. The two headline candidates — who they are and why they matter

Aftyn Behn is identified as the Democratic candidate; Ballotpedia and local coverage describe her background in the Tennessee House and activism organizing work ^{[1] [2]}. Matt Van Epps is the Republican nominee, a former commissioner and veteran with campaign messaging framed around conservative priorities, and his campaign drew a high-profile endorsement from former President Donald Trump before the primary ^{[2] [6]}. National outlets have elevated the race because of outside spending and interest from presidential-era political networks; Fortune reports MAGA-aligned spending in support of Van Epps and national Democratic engagement including an appearance by then–former Vice President Kamala Harris ^[6].

4. Why this seat is strategically important

The 7th District is a Republican-leaning seat (Ballotpedia and district profiles note the district’s partisan tilt), and national groups have treated this special as both a test of Trump-aligned influence and a measurement of Democratic ground game in a red-leaning suburban district ^{[1] [6]}. Fortune’s reporting frames the race as a “marquee political battle” because of outside spending from Trump allies and Democratic high-profile engagement, underlining how a single special can be read as a barometer for 2026 politics ^[6].

5. What the official state sources say — election mechanics

The Tennessee Secretary of State publishes practical voter information about the special election and confirms the December 2 date; county election pages (e.g., Nashville) show the special general election as part of local calendars and sample ballots ^{[3] [4]}. Ballotpedia’s special-election page consolidates candidate lists, primary results, and filing deadlines for the contest ^[1]. For specifics such as exact independent candidate names, ballot order, or local polling places, the Secretary of State and county election offices are the authoritative sources to consult ^{[3] [4]}.

6. Reporting limitations and gaps in the provided materials

The sources provided consistently identify Aftyn Behn, Matt Van Epps, and “four independent candidates” as the December 2 ballot ^{[2] [1]}, but the excerpts here do not enumerate the independents’ names or provide a full certified ballot list ^{[2] [1]}. Wikipedia’s special-election page lists many Republican primary hopefuls and others who declared or withdrew, but the clipped excerpts do not replace an official certified ballot list from the state ^[5]. For definitive verification of each qualified candidate name and ballot placement, the Tennessee Secretary of State and county election offices should be consulted ^{[3] [4]}.

7. Bottom line for readers

Current reporting and election trackers say the December 2 special general for Tennessee’s 7th District includes Democrat Aftyn Behn, Republican Matt Van Epps, and four independents ^{[2] [1]}, and the Tennessee Secretary of State confirms the election date and provides voter resources ^[3]. For the authoritative, final roster and ballots, check the Secretary of State’s special-election page and county election offices; the compiled summaries here reflect the best information available in the cited reporting but do not replace official ballot certification ^{[3] [4]}.