All eyes were on the Volunteer State on Dec. 2 as Middle Tennessee voters cast their ballots in a special election.
Democratic nominee Aftyn Behn and Republican Matt Van Epps faced off for a vacant U.S. House seat long held by a Republican. Ultimately, Van Epps was declared victorious.
Van Epps won with 54.4% of the vote , or 96,988 votes, according to the Tennessee Secretary of State.
While a Republican victory was expected, Van Epps' margin of victory is slimmer than in previous races , split by single digits.
Republicans have long been the predominant political party in Tennessee. Currently, there's just one elected Democrat representing Tennessee on a federal level. Here's a look at the political history of District 7 and why it's so difficult for a Democrat to win an electio

The Tennessean

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