Republicans win Tennessee election despite Democratic fightback

Republican Matt Van Epps has won a closely-watched special congressional election in Tennessee, defeating Democrat Aftyn Behn by around nine points, US media outlets projected. The victory allows Republicans to retain their narrow majority in the House of Representatives, though Van Epps’s margin is less than half of what Donald Trump secured in the district during the 2024 presidential election.

The race in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, which stretches from the Alabama border to parts of Nashville, drew national attention as a potential indicator of Democrats’ chances in next year’s midterms. No Democrat has won the seat in over 40 years.

The contest followed the resignation of Republican Mark Green in July and saw both parties pour millions into campaigning, with top figures including Kamala Harris, Al Gore, and House Speaker Mike Johnson attending rallies. Van Epps, supported virtually by Trump, said his win “showed running from Trump is how you lose, running with Trump is how you win,” underscoring the former president’s ongoing influence in Republican politics.

via BBC

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