Republican Matt Van Epps is one step closer to the halls of Congress after winning the GOP nomination to replace former Tennessee GOP Rep. Mark Green in the House on Tuesday.

The Associated Press called the race for Van Epps at 8:40 p.m., 40 minutes after polls closed. Van Epps defeated nine other candidates in the primary with 42.3%. His closest competitor was state Rep. Jody Barrett, who received 26.3%.