House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., swore in newly elected Rep. Matt Van Epps, R-Tenn., on Thursday morning, less than two days after Van Epps won a surprisingly close election that political observers viewed as a test of GOP favorability heading into next year's midterms.
An Army veteran, Van Epps will replace former Rep. Mark Green, who resigned to take a private-sector job. Van Epps previously served as Tennessee's commissioner of General Services.
Van Epps defeated Democrat state Rep. Aftyn Behn by roughly 9 percentage points, but the margin was far smaller than the 22-point advantage President Donald Trump posted in the district last year.
Critics noted that Johnson moved more quickly to swear in Van Epps than he did Rep. Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., who won a special election in September to replace her late father.
"@Rep_Grijalva was sworn in 50 DAYS after hers. House Republicans only act swiftly when it suits them and their billionaire friends," House Democrats posted on X in response to Van Epps' swearing-in ceremony.
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