WASHINGTON (AP) — Just weeks after Democrats achieved a series of wins over Republicans in the November 4 general election, the next electoral test for both parties will take place Tuesday in a special congressional election in Tennessee’s 7th District, a traditionally Republican stronghold.

House Republicans aim to retain this seat and strengthen their slim 219-213 majority, while Democrats are hopeful for an upset in this Middle Tennessee district, where Republican candidates have consistently won with about 60% of the vote.

The candidates are Republican Matt Van Epps and Democrat Aftyn Behn, who are vying to fill the seat vacated by former GOP Rep. Mark Green, who resigned in July.

Van Epps, a West Point graduate and former Army helicopter pilot, has endorsements from both Trump and Green and won the October special primary easily.

Behn, a state representative elected in a 2023 special election, narrowly won a four-way Democratic primary. Known for her progressive stance, she’s been likened to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a nickname often used by Van Epps supporters.

This race has drawn national attention as the final high-profile matchup of the year. Trump supported Van Epps in a tele-rally as early voting began, while his 2024 election rival, then-Vice President Kamala Harris, campaigned for Behn.

The race has also led to a spike in spending. Before the October primary, Van Epps had spent over $348,000 and had about $54,000 in the bank, while Behn spent over $168,000 with about $20,000 in reserve. As of mid-November, Van Epps raised an additional $590,000, while Behn raised about $1 million.

The 7th District has elected Republicans for over a decade, though it includes parts of Democratic-leaning Davidson County (home to Nashville). Redistricting in 2022 shifted Davidson County into this district along with two other GOP-friendly districts.

In the 2024 election, Trump won the district with about 60% of the vote, while Harris got nearly 68% in the Nashville portion, which accounts for about 22% of the total vote. Trump won the remaining 13 counties with at least 59% of the vote.

Green, the former representative, was elected twice under both the old and new district lines, with his winning margin narrowing after redistricting.

This special election is the fifth of the year for filling vacant congressional seats, with another runoff in a heavily Democratic Houston district scheduled for January 31, 2026, and a vacant seat in northern New Jersey to be filled next April.

The AP will only declare a winner once it’s certain no further changes are possible. In Tennessee, recounts occur only through legal challenges, and the AP may call a winner if the lead is too large to be affected by a recount.