Fox News contributor Liz Peek told viewers on Fox Report Weekend that it’s far too early for Republicans to “hit the panic button,” arguing the Tennessee special election and GOP economic messaging on affordability should be read with perspective, not panic. Her remarks underscore a simple conservative truth: localized setbacks don’t erase a workable national message.
The seat in question is Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, where Republican Matt Van Epps and Democrat Aftyn Behn will face off in a special election on December 2, 2025 to fill the vacancy left by Rep. Mark Green. Van Epps has Trump’s backing and Behn has attracted national Democratic attention, turning what should be a routine contest into a high-profile test.
Polls and outside spending have made the race tighter than many expected, and both parties are pouring money and manpower into a district that should be solidly red. National Democrats see an opening and are investing heavily to make a point, while Republican-aligned groups are scrambling to protect the margin; this is political theater designed to create panic more than proof of a party collapse.
Let’s be blunt: this is a red district that voted heavily for Trump, and a surprise close poll in one special election does not a national trend make. Conservatives should take any narrow results as a warning against complacency — get out the vote, tighten the message, and stop treating every Democrat-funded media hit as a harbinger of doom.
Peek’s core advice — echoed in her Fox segment — is exactly right: the GOP must lean into affordability and make the economy tangible for working families, not drown in inside-the-beltway anxiety. Republicans have a clear story to tell about lowering costs, unleashing American energy, and protecting paychecks, and they should hammer that message relentlessly in door-to-door conversations and local advertising.
Panic is a gift to the left, who thrive on nationalizing local races to raise cash and turnout. Instead of tweeting despair, conservative leaders should organize, recruit volunteers, and translate national principles into concrete local promises that resonate with homeowners, small-business owners, and parents worried about the price of groceries.
Special elections are low-turnout traps where motivated outside money can distort the signal, which is why Democrats are wasting no time dropping cash to claim momentum in a district Trump won handily. Republicans ought to treat this as a reminder to mobilize their base rather than a reason to abandon their economic message or compromise core principles.
Hardworking Americans don’t panic when the media churns; they organize and show up. Take Liz Peek’s calm realism to heart: stay focused on affordability, defend conservative solutions, and prove once again that when patriots work the ground, conservative policies win.
