WASHINGTON ‒ Former Vice President Al Gore made a rare return to the campaign trail as he delivered an impassioned plea to Tennesseans to vote for Democrat Aftyn Behn in the state's 7th congressional special election.
Gore, a former U.S. senator from Tennessee, said he's "never seen the political tides shift as far and fast as we're seeing them move in this election" as Behn looks to pull off a major in her race against Republican Matt Van Epps in a reliably red district.
"I think it's obvious why," Gore said in a virtual rally for Behn on the eve of the Dec. 2 election. "Because while the people of Tennessee are seeing their grocery prices rise and their health care costs skyrocket, Donald Trump is building a golden ballroom and lining his own pockets. It's incredible. This is by far the most corrupt administration in history."
More: Tennessee congressional race becomes unlikely test of blue wave
President Donald Trump won Tennessee's 7th congressional district, which includes 14 Middle Tennessee counties and parts of Nashville, by 22 percentage points in the 2024 election. But Democratic momentum as the minority party, combined with sinking poll numbers for Trump, has turned the Behn-Van Epps race to replace retired Rep. Mark Green, R-Tennessee, into a close contest. Seeking to avert a disaster, Trump has jumped into the race to urge his supporters to vote for Van Epps.
