Democrats around Nashville are energized after a special election narrowed the GOP margin in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District to nine points, an improvement from a 22-point Republican advantage the prior year. Local volunteer networks have swelled and party strategists expect crowded 2026 primaries with clashes between liberals and moderates. Despite redrawn districts that favor Republicans and strong Trump 2024 margins, Democrats hope candidate recruitment, turnout and national momentum could make at least one seat competitive next year.
Nashville Democrats Push After Narrow 2025 Loss — Could Red-State Seats Flip in 2026?
CNN
After a tighter-than-expected special election loss in 2025, Democrats around Nashville say momentum — and frustration — are fueling renewed organizing ahead of the 2026 midterms. Grassroots groups, energized volunteers and party strategists are plotting how to challenge three gerrymandered congressional districts that now slice the city and its suburbs.
John King speaks to a group of liberal women voters in the Nashville suburb of Mount Juliet. - CNN
From Coffee Chats To Campaigns
Megan Schwalm founded the Liberal Ladies Social Group three years ago as a weekly coffee gathering. What began as a small community of concerned neighbors has grown into nearly 700 online members and a steady volunteer corps that helped in the recent special election for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District.
Tennessee Republican redrew the lines before the 2022 elections and carved blue Nashville into three red districts that stretch from the city to the suburbs and out to rural Tennessee. - CNN
“It’s a numbers game, right? So while there are moments of hope for me, there are often overwhelming moments of hopelessness as well,” Schwalm said. “If we can keep closing that gap, that’s incredible. But gerrymandering makes it nearly impossible to win.”
The Map And The Math
Until 2022, a single Democratic-held 5th Congressional District encompassed Nashville and some suburbs — a seat Democrats held for roughly 148 years. After Republicans redrew the map ahead of the 2022 midterms, Nashville was sliced into three districts (the new 5th, 6th and 7th) that extend into conservative suburbs and rural counties. Those changes produced steep GOP advantages: former President Trump carried the reconfigured districts by roughly +18, +35 and +22 points in 2024.
Lisa Quigley says next year has the potential to be very big for Democrats. - CNN
Signs Of Change — And Limits
The recent special election narrowed the margin in the 7th: Democrat Aftyn Behn lost by nine points, a significant improvement from a roughly 22-point GOP margin a year earlier when Mark Green held the seat. Republicans argue a special election is not predictive of midterms; Democrats point to a string of strong Democratic performances nationwide in 2025 as evidence their base may be resurging.
Two-time Trump voter Cyndi Cortes says she's open to voting for a Democrat in 2026, expressing dissatisfaction with her current congressman. - CNN
Party operatives around Nashville say the political energy is real. Lisa Quigley, who served as chief of staff to the last Democrat to represent the area, predicts crowded primaries in 2026 and expects intense battles between liberal and moderate Democrats over who can win in each district.
Where The Races Stand
The three districts pose different opportunities and challenges:
- 5th District: Home to the Red Bicycle coffee shop and roughly 40% Nashville voters, this is seen as Democrats’ best chance. Incumbent Rep. Andy Ogles is a polarizing figure whose positions Democrats believe could be used to mobilize opposition.
- 6th District: The most Republican of the three and likely the longest shot; incumbent Rep. John Rose is running for governor, potentially opening a seat but not necessarily an easy pick-up.
- 7th District: Won by Republican Matt Van Epps in the special election. Democrats hope Van Epps’ brief incumbency and Behn’s strong performance across all 14 counties (she outperformed 2024 Democratic percentages everywhere in the district) will translate into competitiveness in 2026.
Local Voices And Voters
The story is not only about maps and numbers. Business owners Luis and Cyndi Cortes — Trump supporters who run the Mount Juliet Red Bicycle — argue their community prioritizes faith, family and country, and they view much of the area as too conservative to elect Democrats. Still, Cyndi says she plans to oppose Ogles in the GOP primary over concerns about character and transparency and is open to voting for a Democrat in the general if that candidate better reflects local values.
Organizers emphasize that the next year will hinge on candidate recruitment, voter turnout, and whether Republican base enthusiasm remains as strong in a midterm as it was in 2024. Democrats are betting the narrowing margins, expanded volunteer networks and national fundraising momentum will give them a shot at surprising outcomes in 2026 — even in red Tennessee.
Key figures mentioned: Megan Schwalm, Aftyn Behn, Lisa Quigley, Chaz Molder, Andy Ogles, John Rose, Matt Van Epps, Mark Green, Luis and Cyndi Cortes.
