Democratic state Rep. Aftyn Behn and Republican Matt Van Epps will face off on Dec. 2 in the race for Tennessee Congressional District 7. (Photos: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

The special election for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District seat is shaping up as a classic conservative-liberal battle that pits urban versus rural voters in a heavily red region.

The Democratic primary winner, state Rep. Aftyn Behn of Nashville, recently picked up endorsements from the Tennessee AFL-CIO and the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition’s political arm for her support of fair wages, the right to organize and efforts to cut costs, mainly by reducing the sales tax on groceries.

But the Republican primary victor, former Tennessee General Services Commissioner Matt Van Epps, holds end

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