Republican Matt Van Epps was sworn in as Tennessee’s newest congressman Thursday morning, after narrowly winning a special election in the 7th District this week.

The former state commissioner’s victory comes after a campaign that was selective about Van Epps’ association with President Donald Trump.

On election night, U.S. Rep. Van Epps addressed a hushed crowd of supporters at the Maxwell House Hotel in Nashville. In his victory speech, he thanked Trump for his support.

“Tonight, we showed running from Trump is how you lose. Running with Trump is how you win,” he said.

Van Epps also issued a warning: Politicians who run from Trump “do so at their own peril.”

However, in his general election campaign, Van Epps didn’t fully embrace the president. He ran two different versions of the s

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