Democratic 7th Congressional District nominee Aftyn Behn’s campaign is hitting the ground running following her Oct. 7 primary win.Â
Behn — who represents Nashville’s District 51 in the state House — says that while her primary win was “such a wonderful moment,” on election night, she was already thinking of what her campaign needed to do the next day.
Nashville state rep emerges from crowded field to take party’s nomination for Dec. 2 special election
“We were already planning for the general, because we just know what it's going to take to win in the next few weeks,” says Behn. “So yeah, [a] wonderful moment that will be forever etched in my heart — but onward.”
Two days after her win, Behn was joined by her former Democratic opponents — state Reps. Vincent Dixie and Bo Mitchell and political consultant Darden Copeland — at the state party’s Unity Breakfast.
“This is the opportunity that we can put Tennessee back on the national map,” Behn said during the breakfast.
“I was really, really grateful that everyone showed up and that the event actually happened,” Behn says of the Unity Breakfast, adding that she “will absolutely be reaching out to [her former Democratic challengers] to ask for their support.”
Behn argues that despite the electoral challenges facing Democrats in a Republican-dominated state — due in part to a heavily gerrymandered Middle Tennessee — this special election may be the best opportunity for a Democrat to win the 7th District seat since Nashville was carved into three districts in 2022.
“It allows us an opportunity to inoculate against the gerrymandering that we historically feel and endure in this state, and it's a capture of this kind of national excitement that Democrats are feeling across the country,” Behn says.
“I think my victory last Tuesday in this primary shows that voters are hungry for new leadership in both parties,” Behn says, adding that Republican nominee Matt Van Epps is, in her view, “bought and sold by special interests, a puppet of the Trump administration, and Gov. Lee.”
“For me, this election is about building a coalition of those who are disenchanted, of those who are upset about what is going on with the Republican Party,” says Behn.
During an Oct. 11 speech at the Davidson County Democratic Party’s Fall Dinner, Behn argued that her race is part of the bigger shift in American politics — especially within an evolving Democratic Party.
“It's about creating a movement strong enough to push back against the frothing authoritarianism that is trying to claw its way into the soul of our state, and making sure the next generation is equipped with the necessary skill sets to organize and win,” said Behn at the dinner. “Yes, the stakes are high, but this is our moment.”
The race to replace U.S. Rep. Mark Green is crowded — and early voting in the primary begins Sept. 17
While the primary saw numerous forums and candidate meet-and-greets, Behn says her strategy in the general election will be doubling down on direct engagement with voters.Â
“I think it's what we've been doing,” she says. “I think it's going to have to be a bit more tactical, but the energy and momentum is on our side for Dec. 2.”
During the primary, some Democrats criticized Behn’s campaign as an effort to raise her political profile, with some critics pointing to several national television appearances she made. But Behn sees speaking to a wider audience as an important piece of her campaign's fundraising strategy — especially having pledged to not accept political action committee money.
“I'm someone who's not bankrolled by the billionaire boys’ club, and so in order to raise the amount of money, we need to go up on TV and be competitive,” she says. “We have to nationalize this race.”
“If there are opportunities in which I can be the representative of Tennessee and our community in this race, go up and tell them what is happening here and how you should invest in a red state, and how you should invest in a place like Tennessee and in an organizer and a candidate like myself, I welcome the opportunity to do so.”
Behn’s platform has centered on affordability and access to health care, housing, education, groceries and child care, as well as defending workers’ rights and women’s rights. While many of her campaign statements have been about those kitchen-table issues, Behn says if elected she will also vote to release the Epstein files.
“I was the lead organizer with Enough Is Enough Tennessee in calling for the resignation of [state] Rep. David Byrd, who had sexually assaulted underage girls,” Behn says. “That was an entire year of my life dedicated to ensuring that there was accountability for this perpetrator. … I've spent years fighting for survivors and victims, and I'll continue this fight in Congress.”
