A closely watched special election in Tennessee has been called as voters hit the polls to fill a vacancy in Congress. Trump-backed Republican Matt Van Epps defeated Aftyn Behn, a Democrat running for a U.S. House seat.
With 99% of the ballots counted, Van Epps, a war veteran and former state general services commissioner from Nashville, was ahead by 53.9% to 45.1%. The contenders were separated by just over 16,000 votes.
MAGA Inc. gave Van Epps more than $1 million, which is the first time the Trump-aligned super PAC has spent money on a campaign since last year’s presidential race. This shows how important the contest has become.
On Monday, House Speaker Mike Johnson and GOP Chair Joe Gruters campaigned for him in Tennessee. Trump talked to his supporters on the phone and then staged a tele-rally for Van Epps, which was his second of the general election.
The House Majority PAC gave $1 million to help the progressive Behn, and Ken Martin, the national party chair, went to the district to campaign for her.
While on a book tour in Nashville, former Vice President Kamala Harris helped start a canvassing operation.
Former Vice President Al Gore, who is from Tennessee, joined Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in leading a virtual rally the night before the election.
On Monday, Behn made headlines after she avoided questions about whether she thought giving more money to the police would be good or bad.
CNN host Kasie Hunt asked Behn about posts she made on social media in 2020, saying she wanted to get rid of Nashville’s police service. She also asked her if she would want more money for the police in her district now.
“So those past comments were at a time when I was a private citizen. As an activist and organizer, and now as a Tennessee lawmaker, I represent 40,000 individual opinions and political thought,” she said.
Hunt asked Behn again, “And so what do you think now? Would more money for cops be good or bad?”
Behn dodged the question and said it depends on what the community wants.
“I’ve worked with communities, at least my constituents, want to ensure that there is investment in their community for community safety, community protection, mental health services and that’s what I’m hearing from at least my constituents,” she said.
Behn, a Democrat running for state representative and former healthcare community leader, is up against Matt Van Epps, a Republican, in Tuesday’s special election for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District.
The winner will take over for Mark Green, who quit as a GOP representative in June to take a job in the private sector.
Behn also avoided being asked if she didn’t agree with any of Kamala Harris’ ideas as the Democratic nominee for 2024.
“Honestly, haven‘t thought about it. I‘ve got 24 hours to — I don‘t mean to be flippant, but I have 24 hours to win this race. And, all I‘ve been thinking about is talking to every last voter possible, at the doors and trying to make my case as to why I am the best candidate,” Behn said.
“But there’s no policy that you would identify that again, the party’s presidential nominee held, that you do not agree with?” Hunt asked Behn again.
After the interview, Hunt told her CNN panel that she was “surprised” Behn couldn’t name a point of disagreement with Harris, who lost Tennessee to President Donald Trump by nearly 30 points.
Behn made news for criticizing Nashville, which is part of the district she hopes to represent, in a 2020 podcast that resurfaced days before the Dec. 2 special election.
“I hate the city, I hate the bachelorettes, I hate the pedal taverns, I hate country music, I hate all of the things that make Nashville apparently an ‘it’ city to the rest of the country. But I hate it,” she said in the podcast.
