Former Vice President Kamala Harris made an unexpected return to electoral politics, appearing alongside Democratic hopeful Aftyn Behn in Tennessee’s closely watched special election for Congress. The visit marks Harris’s first time campaigning for another candidate since leaving office and underscores the Democratic Party’s growing interest in a race once considered a long shot.
The Dec. 2 election will determine who fills Tennessee’s open Seventh Congressional District seat, a region former President Donald Trump won by more than 20 points in 2024. Despite the district’s conservative tilt, recent investments from both national parties reflect a shared belief that the contest could serve as a bellwether for the political climate heading into next year’s midterms.
Early voting is already underway as Behn, a state representative, faces Republican nominee and military veteran Matt Van Epps. Trump recently boosted Van Epps’s campaign by headlining a virtual rally, signaling that Republicans are also taking the race seriously.
Harris headlined a canvassing kickoff event at Nashville’s Hadley Park after visiting nearby Fisk University, the historically Black institution located within the district. Speaking through a bullhorn, she emphasized the importance of Southern voter turnout, declaring, “Why am I in Tennessee? Because I know the power is in the South.” While she did not mention Behn by name, Harris urged attendees to mobilize for the election just two weeks ahead, generating excitement among students who appreciated the attention brought to their campus and statewide politics.
Behn, who addressed the crowd before Harris’s arrival, called the showdown “the most competitive race in America,” framing the contest as a rare Democratic opportunity in deeply Republican territory.
Harris’s appearance was added to her Nashville stop on the promotional tour for her new election memoir, 107 Days. The move highlights a renewed national political presence for the former vice president, who has openly left the door ajar for future presidential ambitions after declining a run for California governor earlier this year. She also recently campaigned in support of California’s Proposition 50—successfully passed by voters—to redraw the state’s congressional map to favor Democrats.
With turnout expected to be low, both parties are pouring resources into the race’s final stretch. For Democrats, Harris’s return signals they see Tennessee’s special election not just as a contest—but as a test.
