Early voting begins in Tennessee's pivotal District 7 primaries
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Early voting begins Wednesday in the primary races for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District.
Why it matters: The special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Mark Green serves as an early temperature check heading into next year's midterm elections.
- Tennessee Republicans redrew the district to favor conservatives in 2022. But Democratic candidates say they could be competitive if voters have started tilting away from the Trump administration's policies.
Catch up quick: TN-7 covers a large swath of Nashville, including downtown and western Davidson County. It also includes Clarksville and stretches across several rural counties near the northern and southern borders.
- Green, a Trump-aligned Republican, won the district decisively in 2022 and 2024.
- His abrupt departure from Congress this year set the stage for the crowded Oct. 7 primary.
Driving the news: Polls open for early voting at 8am Wednesday. There are six early voting locations.
- Early voting runs through Oct. 2.
Zoom in: Primary ballots include 11 Republicans and four Democrats.
The sprawling Republican field features former state official Matt Van Epps and state lawmakers Jody Barrett, Gino Bulso and Lee Reeves.
- Among the other candidates are Montgomery County Commissioner Jason D. Knight; former Green backer Stuart Cooper; and Mason Foley, who was previously a staffer for Sen. Mitch McConnell.
- The Republican ballot also includes Stewart Parks, who was convicted of crimes tied to Jan. 6 but later pardoned by President Trump.
- Go deeper: Read WPLN's overview for more on the slate of candidates.
Between the lines: The long list of candidates combined with limited polling makes the outcome particularly difficult to predict.
- But the winner of the Republican primary will enter the general election as the frontrunner.
The Democratic candidates are businessman Darden Copeland and state lawmakers Aftyn Behn, Vincent Dixie and Bo Mitchell.
- Go deeper: The Tennessee Lookout covered a Democratic debate that saw the candidates spar over the best strategies to pull an upset.
What's next: Primary election day is Oct. 7, with the general election to follow on Dec. 2.
- The TN-7 special election will be followed by a glut of big-ticket elections next year, including the race to replace outgoing Gov. Bill Lee.