A special election taking place in Tennessee on December 2 is taking on added importance in the wake of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s (R-GA) shocking resignation from Congress.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) currently has a precarious 219-213 majority in the House of Representatives, with three vacancies, one of which is the Tennessee seat vacated by former Rep. Mark Green. The other two vacancies are from Democratic districts, one in Texas and one in New Jersey, and both will have special elections early next year.
However, if the worst-case scenario for Republicans comes to pass next week, with Democrats flipping Tennessee, Johnson’s majority would potentially shrink to three, with Greene’s departure in January 2026 further reducing that to two, leaving him with virtually no wiggle room should one member vote against Republican legislation.
The Cook Political Report changed the Tennessee special election from “Solid R” to “Likely R” in November, following the 2025 elections, which saw a swing toward Democrats. Mark Green won his district by 21 points, making it a tall order for Democrats to flip, but they sense blood in the water.
“Sources roundly agree that Nashville Democrats are ravenous at the prospect of an upset, while many Republican voters are unaware an election is even taking place,” CPR wrote of the race.
Democratic strategist Jon Reinish shared a similar sentiment with the Washington Examiner, saying it is “telling” that Republicans are spending time and money on this race.
“The fact that this is even being discussed as something remotely close and not a Republican cleaning the Democrats clock, which is what typically happens in this district and in this state, means that Republicans are going to say, ‘s***, we’ve got to throw everything at this race,’ even though they shouldn’t even have to pay attention to it,” Reinish said.
“They shouldn’t even be spending 20 bucks on this race,” he added. “Instead, they’re spending a lot of money.”
Aside from spending money on this race, major Republican voices have also chimed in. President Donald Trump endorsed Republican candidate Matt Van Epps, holding a tele-rally in support of him. Johnson did a local radio interview with Van Epps, which will air on Tuesday, encouraging early voting. Other Republicans have begun taking shots at Democratic candidate Aftyn Behn for some of her previous comments.
“Aftyn Behn hates our city, our culture, and our traditions. No one who despises the identity of a place should be asking to represent it,” conservative influencer Riley Gaines wrote on X. “Nashvillians, early vote for @MattForTN tomorrow!!!!”
The Republican National Committee has also been attacking Behn on social media ahead of the race, posting videos of her dodging questions on defunding the police.
Republicans are not the only party with big names chiming in as Election Day approaches.
Major players from the Democratic side have also weighed in on the race, such as former Vice President Kamala Harris and Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin. Harris appeared for the first time on the campaign trail in Nashville since she ran for president in 2024.
Democrats have remained encouraged after last month’s double-digit gubernatorial wins in both New Jersey and Virginia. This election holds high stakes as it could be a turning point for any legislative priorities the Republican Party wants to accomplish before the 2026 midterm elections.
Green announced his retirement earlier this year as he headed for a job in the private sector. Since then, many well-known and affluent House members have also announced their retirements. From former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to Greene, and more central figures such as Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Jared Golden (D-ME) are facing a major shake-up in the lower chamber.
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Both Greene and Golden cited threats of political violence against them and their families as a reason to step aside from Congress. Greene has faced a massive amount of blowback after publicly feuding with Trump on many occasions in recent months, leading to the president withdrawing his endorsement of Greene.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Johnson’s office for comment.
