Combat veteran Matt Van Epps (right) defeated Democrat Aftyn Behn. AdvertisementAs of 10 p.m. Tuesday, Van Epps was leading Behn by just nine percentage points, a 13-point shift from Trump’s performance in 2022. Trump endorsed and held rallies for Van Epps, a young combat veteran who Republicans and Democrats alike saw as a competent and scandal-free candidate. Trump and Johnson campaigned for Van Epps, though Trump declined to hold a public rally in the district. Statements from party leaders after Van Epps’ victory congratulated the candidate but notably avoided declarations about what his victory could mean for the midterms.
