Burchett Blames Tennessee’s “Homegrown Marxists” as GOP Panics Over Special Election

Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett is issuing a public warning to Republicans as the state heads into a closely watched special House election, saying the GOP could lose the race because of what he calls “homegrown Marxists” in his own state.

Follow The Coffman Chronicle on NewsBreak for daily breaking political coverage.

Burchett made the remarks during a Fox News appearance on Tuesday, framing the contest in Tennessee’s 7th District as a potential wake-up call for Republicans if Democrat Aftyn Behn manages to win the heavily conservative seat. The district was carried by Donald Trump by more than 20 points in 2024, making the unexpectedly tight contest a surprise to both parties.

Burchett said the threat isn’t from coastal liberals moving into Tennessee, but from Tennesseans themselves.
“It’s not these people moving in from California, or New York, or Chicago,” he said. “It is our own homegrown Marxists that we’re bringing up.”

The congressman urged voters to turn out for Republican nominee Matt Van Epps, warning that low turnout could hand Democrats a symbolic victory in a district long seen as safe territory for the GOP.

The remarks come as recent polling shows an unusually close race, with some surveys putting the margin within just a few points. Both national parties are watching the election closely for signs of shifting political winds, especially as Tennessee has trended more competitive in pockets where turnout among younger and suburban voters has grown.

Burchett framed the race as a test for Republicans heading into 2026, saying a loss in a deep-red district would signal complacency and raise serious concerns for the party’s midterm strategy.

Polls close this evening, with results expected later tonight.