Silence on the Trail: How the TN-7 Race Slipped Into Quiet Mode

Both campaigns declined a local policy questionnaire and no debate has emerged, leaving voters with fewer chances to hear directly from the nominees

A Nashville Banner column published Oct. 22 criticized Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District nominees, Republican Matt Van Epps and Democrat Aftyn Behn, for declining to answer a policy questionnaire the outlet sent to all candidates. During the primaries, six of 15 candidates responded; neither Van Epps nor Behn did. The Banner framed the exercise as basic voter accountability and said it received “crickets” from both general-election campaigns.

The Questionnaire Flap

The Banner’s sample questions covered issues currently before Congress, including inflation, tariffs, abortion, infrastructure, and whether Congress should investigate Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s conduct related to the May ICE sting. According to the column, Behn’s campaign provided a brief statement pointing to prior public appearances and social content; Van Epps’ campaign did not respond.

No Debate, Less Dialogue

TNPOLITICO’s checks have found no announced debate between the nominees since the Oct. 7 primaries. The absence of both a questionnaire response and a public forum narrows the opportunities for voters to compare the candidates side by side. With early voting set to begin Nov. 12 and Election Day on Dec. 2, the window for a broader public conversation is short.

Van Epps’ Safe Strategy

Van Epps has emphasized routine, low-risk appearances with Republican officials and local party groups while maintaining tight message discipline on social media. In a Republican-leaning district, a low-visibility, low-risk approach typically benefits the front-runner by avoiding unforced errors and keeping the race on familiar ground.

Behn’s Post-Primary Lull

Behn’s primary bid leaned on accessible, grassroots-style communication that supporters described as energizing. Since then, her public messaging has narrowed. In a recent TikTok, she told supporters the general election would be “a referendum on affordability” and that the campaign would remain “laser-focused” on that issue rather than “chasing every issue du jour.” In recent weeks, Behn supporters have publicly asked about plans, volunteer shifts, and yard-sign availability, suggesting the quieter posture has created uncertainty about next steps. It is unclear whether this pause reflects a reset or pacing for a late push as voting nears.

Turnout Dynamics

Quiet campaigns tend to depress overall engagement while leaving core partisan vote intact. In TN-7, that dynamic favors the Republican nominee. For Behn, any viable path runs through expanding the electorate—particularly younger, irregular voters and independents—which is difficult to achieve without sustained visibility and unscripted voter contact.

What Voters Are Missing

The Banner’s questions tracked with policy areas the next member of Congress will face, from pocketbook issues to federal oversight. Without responses to those prompts or a debate, voters have fewer opportunities to evaluate how the candidates would approach concrete decisions in Washington.

What To Watch

• Any movement toward a debate or joint forum before or during early voting.
• Whether Behn accelerates public events, campus outreach, and volunteer operations in the final month.
• Whether Van Epps maintains a low-risk schedule or adds issue-specific stops that preview a governing agenda.