Republican Matt Van Epps wins closely watched Tennessee special election

Matt Van Epps with Mike Johnson, the House speaker, on Monday. Photograph: John Amis/AP

Republican Matt Van Epps defeated Democrat Aftyn Behn in a congressional special election in the western Nashville suburbs, which was being closely watched for signs of Republican weakness going into congressional midterms next year.

The Associated Press called the race at 9.47 EST with Van Epps holding a 52% to 46% lead.