In the Tennessee special elections, a crowded field for a seat at the open congress

The candidates include the legislators of the veteran states, the new political arrivals and a man forgiven by President Trump for his role in the riot of the Capitol on January 6, 2021. In all, 19 people participated in the first special elections of the Tennessee Congress in almost four decades, a number that will shrink considerably after the primaries on Tuesday.

The Republicans remain widely favored in the race for the headquarters of the Middle Tennessee, which Mark Green, a Republican elected in 2018, abandoned in July to start a business. Mr. Green was re -elected in 2024 with almost 60% of the vote. An approval at the end of last week of Mr. Trump A Matt Van Epps, former commissioner of the General Services Department of Tennessee and an army veteran, hoping to stand out in an area of ​​nearly a dozen republican candidates.

The brutal departure of Mr. Green three months ago led to a condensed electoral cycle. There was little public survey, and shortly for the candidates to present themselves in a district that extends from the Tennessee border with Kentucky at its border with Alabama.

The early voting rate was extremely low, with just over 36,000 people in 14 counties – just a fraction of the electorate – having voted when it ended on October 2.

The representative of the state Bo Mitchell, a resident of Nashville who is one of the four Democrats who presents himself for the headquarters, described the tight cycle race as “building the plane in the air”.

While the republican supermajority of the Legislative Assembly was divided into three districts in 2022 to eliminate a democratic seat in complete safety, certain Democrats believe that an energetic liberal participation rate could possibly exceed the conservative advantage in at least one of the three.

“Voter’s apathy is the biggest competition,” Mitchell said at the National Banana Pudding Festival campaign in Center -Vente, Tenn., Southwest of Nashville on Sunday. “If we can just have people vote, I feel confident.”

On the republican side of the ballot, state legislators and new candidates have jockey to be considered the most faithful Trump ally, with the most authentic conservative pedigree. Hundreds of thousands of dollars had paid in primary school when Mr. Trump approved Mr. Van Epps on Friday.

He also won the approvals not only of Mr. Trump, but Governor Bill Lee and Mr. Green, who occupied the siege for more than six years.

“I defend conservative values, and this is what I will advance,” said Van Epps on the last day anticipated voting last week after welcoming the volunteers outside a polling station in Clarksville. He added: “We worked very hard to create an identifier and a presence.”

His most difficult opposition is likely to come from two representatives of the state who jumped in the race, Jody Barrett and Gino Bulso. A third, Lee Reeves, abandoned after Mr. Van Epps received the approval of Mr. Trump, although his name remains on the ballot.

Mr. Bulso is known for his file opposed to abortion and policies supporting LGBTQ rights, including a proposal to prohibit the flags of pride in the classrooms of public schools.

Stewart Parks, whom Mr. Trump pardoned in January for participating in the 2021 riot in the Capitol, has repeatedly highlighted the website of his campaign. Mr. Parks had been sentenced to intrusion and theft. “President Trump was there for me,” he said on his campaign website, “and I’m going to be there for him.”

In addition to Mr. Mitchell, the Democratic candidates include two other state representatives, Vincent Dixie and Aftyn Behn, and Darden Copeland, a businessman who paid thousands of dollars of his own money in the campaign.

The three Democratic legislators worked to increase the participation rate of Nashville and the surrounding area, sometimes out of the experiences whose experiences could better galvanize their base at a time when the national party is torn apart by the best way to call on voters.

“America must show, Tennessee must show, do they agree with these policies and where is it okay?” Mr. Dixie said.

Ms. Behn, a progressive organizer who is the only woman on the ballot with a party affiliation, does not live in the district, but she represents parts of Nashville who are there. In an interview, she supervised her candidacy in part as a outlet for frustrated and disillusioned women and young voters.

“I have spent the last 10 years to develop my skills, to train to be able to lead right now,” she said. “And I’m ready.”

The general elections of the seat are set for December 2.