Trump, Harris Allies Flood Tennessee with Cash as Special Election Becomes National Battleground
NASHVILLE, TN – A Tennessee special election to fill the vacant 5th Congressional District seat is rapidly escalating into a high-stakes, multi-million dollar contest, drawing intervention from figures aligned with both former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. The race, initially viewed as a local affair, has become a marquee battleground as national political forces seek to influence the outcome.
the election was triggered by the expulsion of former Representative Andy ogles, and now features Republican candidate Kurt Van Epps against Democrat Keeda Haynes and independent Jon Thorp. Van Epps,initially aligned with Trump’s positions,recently shifted his stance on releasing documents related to Jeffrey Epstein after the former president endorsed their disclosure - a move highlighted by opponents. He previously opposed a House vote to force the Justice Department to disclose more documents, but changed his stance after Trump backed the measure this week.
Meanwhile, Democratic allies are actively working to undermine Van Epps by promoting Thorp, a conservative independent. Your Community PAC, having already spent over $16 million nationally supporting Democratic candidates, is deploying mailers branding Van Epps as a “hedge fund billionaire-backed RINO” in an effort to sway Republican voters. The PAC’s funding largely originates from north Fund, a nonprofit supporting left-leaning advocacy groups.
The influx of money isn’t one-sided. Conservatives for American Excellence, backed by megadonor Ken Griffin, is investing over $600,000 in advertisements opposing Democratic candidate keeda Haynes. the Club for Growth, a prominent pro-school voucher organization, is also targeting Haynes, spending $300,000 on advertising focused on past remarks where she described herself as “radical.”
Keeda Haynes’ campaign has positioned itself as a voice for those “upset about the cost of living and the chaos of Washington,” according to statements made by Haynes at a recent Nashville rally. She has publicly condemned Trump’s tax and spending legislation, dubbed the “One Big Gorgeous Bill,” and his tariffs, policies Van Epps supports.
Tennessee political strategist Chip saltsman, while predicting a Van Epps victory, acknowledges the increased spending could narrow his margin of win.”They’re doing everything they need to do,” Saltsman said, suggesting Republicans “take a extra couple swigs of Pepto Bismol on election night.”