The Republican candidate has prevailed in the special election for the 7th congressional district of Tennessee.
With 81% of the vote in, Matt Van Epps, a Trump-endorsed Republican, holds a lead of more than 11,000 votes over radical Democratic state Rep. Aftyn Behn. CNN and NBC News among other outlets have called the race for Van Epps.
'I hate all of the things that make Nashville.'
Though as of this writing he hasn't yet claimed victory on social media, Van Epps did tweet, "THANK YOU, TENNESSEE," shortly after media began calling the race.
Behn has not commented on social media.
However, she has lately had to answer for some previous comments and behaviors that indicate an erratic temperament and a deep-seated animus for Nashville, the city she was running to represent in Congress.
"I hate the city, I hate the bachelorettes, I hate the pedal taverns, I hate country music, I hate all of the things that make Nashville, apparently, an 'it' city to the rest of the country," she said.
In 2019, Behn also stormed into the office of Republican Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, and security had to come in and forcibly remove her, video revealed. She then began kicking, screaming, and sobbing on the floor.
By contrast, President Trump described Van Epps as a "phenomenal Candidate" and a "MAGA Warrior" in a Truth Social post on Tuesday morning.
The special election was held on Tuesday to replace former Republican Rep. Mark Green, who abruptly retired in June after helping pass Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Green said he planned to pursue a private sector opportunity that was "too exciting to pass up."
By holding the seat, Republicans will keep a 220-213 majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, though Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has already announced she plans to resign in January. Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill also stepped down from her seat after winning the New Jersey gubernatorial election last month.
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Ana Navarro of “The View” has said she’s giving Marjorie Taylor Greene the “benefit of the doubt,” claiming Greene’s decision to leave Congress was sparked by a supposed political wake-up call — and that her future might not be Republican.
“People call me naive, but I give her the benefit of the doubt,” Navarro began. “I do think that the Charlie Kirk assassination was an ‘aha’ moment for her.”
“In terms of, ‘Do I really want to be a part of this horrible political climate and of the polarization and the weaponizing of government and of speech and all of that stuff.' I also think she could have served one more year if she wanted, right? Her term is not over until January of 2027,” she continued.
Navarro went on to explain that something will have to change within Greene’s career, as she doesn’t “think she gets out of the problem of being on the other side of Trump in a Republican primary if she runs as a Republican for Senate.”
“That’s some real insight,” BlazeTV host Pat Gray jokes.
“They’re just saying ... 'if she runs for Senate, she’s not going to win that battle, and she should just come to work for us,'” co-host Jeff Fisher chimes in.
“And maybe she will,” Gray agrees. “I mean, you know, Marjorie Taylor Greene is not hard up for money.”
“It is a good gig,” he continues. “You just sit there and yap, babble, talk about stuff you know nothing about for an hour a day, and you’re done. ... And you know they don’t spend any more time in preparation than that.”
“They stay in their little bubble and believe everything that MSNBC tells them and spew it. They just regurgitate it,” he adds.
To enjoy more of Pat's biting analysis and signature wit as he restores common sense to a senseless world, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia has had some choice words for her critics following her unexpected decision to retire in the middle of her term.
Greene announced she will be retiring on January 5, 2026, before completing her term after a public falling out with her longtime ally President Donald Trump. Greene claimed the dispute originated over her calls to release the Epstein files, an effort Trump later came around to support. Other reports suggest the two split after the White House quietly discouraged Greene from pursuing higher office.
'F**k you in the sweetest most southern drawl I can enunciate.'
Regardless of the root cause, Trump disowned one of his most loyal supporters, prompting Greene to call it quits. At the same time, Greene has had some harsh words for critics who said she should at least serve out the rest of the term she was elected to.
"Oh I haven’t suffered enough for you while you post all day behind a screen?" Greene asked Mike Cernovich, who called for her to finish serving her term. "Do I have to stay until I’m assassinated like our friend Charlie Kirk. Will that be good enough for you then?"
RELATED: 'Canary in a coal mine': Ousted speaker warns against the rising risk of GOP House resignations
"S**t posting on the internet all day isn’t fighting," Greene added. "Get off YOUR ass and run for Congress. I fought harder than anyone in the real arena, not social media. Put down your little pebbles and put your money where your mouth is."
Greene went on to equate calls from critics to finish serving her term to "typical Republican men" demanding women to "get back in the kitchen." Notably this was on her official government account.
"Typical of Republican men telling a woman to 'shut up get back in the kitchen and fix me something to eat,'" Greene said. "F**k you in the sweetest most southern drawl I can enunciate."
RELATED: Marjorie Taylor Greene calls it quits after 'traitor' branding by Trump
"I have been trying to tell all you 'men' that our kitchen pantry is empty with spider webs, our house has been ransacked, the windows and doors are broken and busted, and the greedy rich bastards have twisted your minds into a sick state that you all continue in the two party toxic political system and act like college football playoffs yet is burying you and your children and their children and their children in a pine box in a shallow grave."
"Get off your ass and fix your own damn food and clean up the kitchen when you're done."
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Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) warned that political breakups might become more commonplace in the Republican Party.
McCarthy's prediction comes after Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia announced that she will retire from the House in January before finishing her congressional term. This announcement followed a public falling-out with longtime ally President Donald Trump.
'I've found Marjorie to be very effective.'
Despite being one of Trump's most loyal supporters on Capitol Hill, Greene said their falling-out was over her commitment to releasing the Epstein files, which the White House later supported. Other reports suggested that the split came after the White House squashed Greene's political aspirations beyond the House of Representatives.
"She's leaving Congress, but I don't think that's the end that you'll see about her," McCarthy said.
RELATED: Marjorie Taylor Greene calls it quits after 'traitor' branding by Trump
"I've always believed that any time you have an elected official that's known by three initials, they're effective on what they do," McCarthy added. "And I've found Marjorie to be very effective."
McCarthy, who is all too familiar with having one's political career cut short by MAGA world, said Greene's resignation may be the first of many unless Congress changes course.
"She's almost like a canary in a coal mine," McCarthy said. "And this is something inside Congress. They better wake up, because they're going to get a lot of people retiring, and they gotta focus."
RELATED: Marjorie Taylor Greene says she has received violent threats — and blames Trump
McCarthy also noted that the infighting ultimately takes away from a very small window of time in which Republicans hold the ultimate political advantage: a trifecta majority.
"I think keeping members out of Congress, you only get two years to be in the majority," McCarthy said. "And if the Democrats get you not to work every day for two months, that's losing two months of the majority."
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Georgia U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R) announced her resignation Friday night, citing a desire to spare her family from further danger and her district from a "hurtful and hateful" Republican primary.
While her current term does not end until Jan. 3, 2027, Greene indicated she will instead leave office on Jan. 5, 2026.
In both her video and written statements, Greene highlighted her historic support for President Donald Trump, her conservative voting record — the New Americans' Freedom Index gives her a lifetime rating of 97% and the Conservative Review's Liberty Score gave her a 100% rating — and her subjection over the years to constant "personal attacks, death threats, lawfare, ridiculous slander, and lies."
'All I see 'Wacky' Marjorie do is COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN!'
"When the common American people finally realize and understand that the Political Industrial Complex of both parties is ripping this country apart, that not one elected leader like me is able to stop Washington's machine from gradually destroying our country, and instead the reality is that they, common Americans, The People possess the real power over Washington," wrote Greene, "then I'll be here by their side to rebuild it."
Her resignation announcement comes just days after Greene suggested that the latest series of threats against her life were due to her recent loss of favor with Trump.
The president noted in a lengthy Nov. 14 post on Truth Social that he was withdrawing his support for the "ranting lunatic" Georgia congresswoman and would give "unyielding" support to whomever opposes her in next year's primary.
"All I see 'Wacky' Marjorie do is COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN! It seemed to all begin when I sent her a Poll stating that she should not run for Senator, or Governor, she was at 12% and didn't have a chance (unless, of course, she had my Endorsement — which she wasn't about to get!)," wrote Trump.
RELATED: Marjorie Taylor Greene says she has received violent threats — and blames Trump
When asked days later about the threats against Greene — the Rome Police Department confirmed in an emailed statement to Blaze News that they received reports about them — Trump told reporters, "Marjorie 'Traitor' Greene. I don't think her life is in danger. ... Frankly, I don't think anybody cares about her."
Greene subsequently noted, "President Trump’s unwarranted and vicious attacks against me were a dog whistle to dangerous radicals that could lead to serious attacks on me and my family."
Since taking office in 2021, Greene has been the victim of numerous swatting attacks — attacks that various lawmakers have suggested are tantamount to attempted murder and domestic terrorism.
The congresswoman alleged that whereas the swatting attacks and death threats she had previously experienced came from the left, she said Trump labeling her a "traitor" made her a target for attacks by individuals on the right.
'Many common Americans have been cast aside and replaced as well.'
"... President Trump has called me a traitor, which is absolutely untrue and horrific," wrote Greene, adding that "this puts blood in the water and creates a feeding frenzy. And it could ultimately lead to a harmful or even deadly outcome."
The response to the news that Greene is leaving office has been mixed.
Trump — whom Greene criticized in recent months for his June airstrikes on Iran and his Justice Department's handling of the Epstein files — told ABC News' Rachel Scott, "I think it's great news for the country. It's great."
Trump commented further Saturday morning — calling her "Marjorie 'Traitor' Brown" — and saying Greene "has decided to call it 'quits'" due to "PLUMMETING Poll Numbers, and not wanting to face a Primary Challenger with a strong Trump Endorsement (where she would have no chance of winning!) ..."
After Trump also dinged Kentucky Republicans U.S. Sen. Rand Paul and U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie — and suggested Greene "went BAD" because he didn't return her phone calls — the president thanked the Georgia congresswoman for her service.
Laura Loomer — who has advocated for the ouster of various elements of Trump's 2024 coalition in recent months — tweeted that "Traitor Greene is a terrible person. I get a lot of joy in watching my enemies fall."
Shawn Harris, a Democrat hoping to flip Greene's seat in the midterm election, also welcomed the news, writing, "Get ready Georgia! Teachers, farmers, veterans, EVERYONE, I need your support."
But some politicos expressed displeasure with Greene's resignation announcement.
Former Cobb County GOP Chairwoman Salleigh Grubbs said she was "heartbroken," noting that Greene "put it all on the line time after time. She fought for her district and put America First. What more could anyone have wanted? A sad day in America."
Indiana Rep. Victoria Spartz (R) said "there's a lot of truth to what Marjorie had to say" and added that she can't "blame her for leaving this institution that has betrayed the American people."
Cenk Uygur, the far-left CEO of the Young Turks, wrote the following to Greene: "I would have never imagined saying this, but … don’t go. Stay and fight. Even though we still disagree on so many things, you were one of the very few honest people in Congress. Stay and fight!"
But Greene noted in her Friday statement, "I refuse to be a 'battered wife' hoping it all goes away and gets better. If I am cast aside by MAGA Inc and replaced by Neocons, Big Pharma, Big Tech, Military Industrial War Complex, foreign leaders, and the elite donor class that can't even relate to real Americans, then many common Americans have been cast aside and replaced as well."
The disenchanted Republican added, "There is no 'plan to save the world' or insane 4D chess game being played."
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