While Democrats are painting the near 9-point loss by Aftyn Behn as a moral victory in the long-held district won by President Donald Trump by 22 points a year ago, the Republican National Committee (RNC) noted it was a victory over anti-American "hate" by "radical" leftists.
"Voters didn't just reject [Democrat state Rep.] Aftyn Behn and her anti-Tennessee, abolish-the-police agenda — they rejected the Democrats' entire radical platform," RNC Chair Joe Gruters wrote in a statement Tuesday night.
Rep.-elect Matt Van Epps, R-Tenn., defeated the millions thrown into the race by Democrats seeking to potentially flip a House seat with the narrow GOP majority (220-213 with two vacancies).
"While Democrats stood united behind Behn and her far-left ideas, Republicans stood behind Matt Van Epps, a patriot who loves his state and loves this nation," Gruters' statement continued.
"This win makes one thing clear: voters want leaders who deliver for hardworking Americans, not far-left candidates who hate the very people they claim to represent."
Notably, Behn was running in a district that included the famed Music City of Nashville, a city of country music and pedal bars — things she professed to hate in an attempt to appeal to locals that have grown tired of the tourists and party scene in the city.
President Donald Trump endorsed Van Epps strongly going in and hailed him for defending the GOP-held seat in the face of millions poured into the race by Democrats coming out.
"Congratulations to Matt Van Epps on his BIG Congressional WIN in the Great State of Tennessee," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
"The Radical Left Democrats threw everything at him, including Millions of Dollars. Another great night for the Republican Party!!! President DJT."
Eric Mack ✉
Eric Mack has been a writer and editor at Newsmax since 2016. He is a 1998 Syracuse University journalism graduate and a New York Press Association award-winning writer.
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