Al Gore Steps In to Boost Tennessee Democrat in Crucial Special Election [View all]

Source: Newsweek

Published Nov 30, 2025 at 01:01 PM EST updated Nov 30, 2025 at 02:23 PM EST


Former Vice President Al Gore will campaign for Democratic State Representative Aftyn Behn in Tennessee’s high-stakes special election—on the same day President Donald Trump holds a rival televised rally for the Republican nominee. Both campaigns are leaning on big-name surrogates to boost turnout in a tightening race.

The special election in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, which Trump carried by 22 points in 2024, has become unexpectedly competitive. Republican Matt Van Epps leads Behn 48 percent to 46 percent, according to an Emerson College Polling/The Hill survey published Wednesday. With 5 percent of voters still undecided—and early voting favoring Behn while Election Day voters lean toward Van Epps—turnout may determine the result.

Why It Matters

Gore has largely focused on environmental activism in recent years, so a return to the domestic political arena underscores Democratic efforts to energize voters in a state where the party faces steep odds. The outcome of the special election could have key implications for control of the House of Representatives, where Republicans hold a wafer-thin majority, currently 219-213. A party needs 218 for a majority, and there are currently three vacancies, with Republican resignations possibly on the horizon.

What To Know

A Saturday post on X from Behn’s campaign announcing Gore’s appearance at a Monday virtual “get out the vote” event was later deleted, but Behn confirmed his participation during a Sunday morning appearance on CNN, calling the former vice president “a Tennessee legend.” She also said New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez would attend. A spokesperson for Gore, who served as vice president under President Bill Clinton and earlier as a Tennessee senator and representative, separately confirmed his involvement in an email to Newsweek.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/al-gore-boost-tennessee-democrat-special-election-aftyn-behn-matt-van-apps-11131683