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This piece was co-authored by artist and advocate, Stephanie Jacques, of Rhythm & Rights, Steph Jacques [ [link removed] ] and Pari & Eve of Repro Ready . Join us in following their work:
There was a moment in 2019 that tells you everything you need to know about Aftyn Behn.
She’s standing in the Tennessee House chamber. Around her, male legislators are fighting for their colleague, a man accused of sexually assaulting teenage girls, to keep his seat. Behn said fuck no. She protested. Loudly. In the House chambers against predator David Byrd. She was arrested for her “outburst,” as the headlines called it. We call it speaking truth to power.
Fast forward to today (literally TODAY) and that same woman is running for Congress in one of the reddest districts in America — with a real chance to win. Time to log on.
This Wasn’t Supposed to Happen
Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District is a gerrymandered masterpiece designed to swallow Nashville’s blue voters into a sea of deep-red rural counties. Trump won this district by over 21 points just a year ago. It is one of the reddest seats in Congress. When ranked, it is 313th in the “most Democratic” Congressional seats in America…out of 435. (Nearly dead last.) Historically, this seat has never stood a chance at flipping blue.
Except.
Except, the latest poll shows Van Epps (R) at 48% and Behn (D) at 46%. JUST TWO POINTS APART. In a district Trump carried by 22 points.
Except conservative super PACs have burned through $3.3 million trying to stop this woman. Trump has been rage-posting on Truth Social about her. And House Speaker Mike Johnson is flying into TN for emergency rallies.
Except this race that should have been a boring formality has become a five-alarm fire for Republicans who are starting to realize that their grip on “safe” seats isn’t so safe anymore.
Let’s talk about this amazing woman who has MAGA shaking in their boots. Before Behn was a state representative, she worked as a healthcare organizer for the Tennessee Justice Center, helping people navigate the bureaucratic nightmare of accessing care in a state that refused Medicaid expansion. Learning the names of families who had to choose between insulin and rent. Documenting the real cost of Republicans’ “free market” healthcare fantasy.
In 2018, she became the lead organizer for Enough is Enough TN, the campaign to expel the legislator accused of assaulting minors that we opened this story with earlier. While older, more “serious” political operatives wrung their hands about strategy and optics, Behn was organizing protests, amplifying survivors’ voices, refusing to let everyone just move on. Because she’s a real one.
The political establishment told her she was doing it wrong. That you can’t be confrontational in TN. That you need to play nice, be a good Southern girl, appeal to the middle, not rock the boat.
Behn got arrested instead.
And then, in 2023, after the death of longtime state representative Bill Beck, she ran for his seat. She won the general election with 75.61% of the vote becoming the 51st district House Representative at 33-years-old.
The Closing Stretch
Here’s where the story gets wild.
Since the primary, ‘Badass B’ Behn (our new nickname for her) has raised over $1 million…outraising her opponent, Van Epps, almost two to one. Not from corporate PACs but from actual people who believe in what she’s fighting for.
Behn’s campaign is an unmistakable reflection of her deep community roots and the relationships she’s built over years of showing up. Longstanding coalitions she has worked with, many of whom have been doing the groundwork in past election cycles, have rallied again for a candidate they trust. PPVotes, the electoral arm of Planned Parenthood, endorsed Behn. She has also earned the backing of TIRRC and The Equity Alliance. These three statewide organizations have seen her leadership up close, and their support signals a shared belief that Behn doesn’t just talk about the work, she lives it.
This is why the early vote broke for Behn 56% to 42%. In a Trump +22 district. Because TN-7 trusts Behn in a district where Trump’s approval rating has collapsed to 47% (49% disapproving).
Al Gore came out of semi-retirement to campaign for Behn. So did Kamala Harris and AOC. National Democrats who initially planned to sit this one out realized what’s happening: the ground is shifting.
And the Republican reaction is going as well as expected. They’ve gotten so desperate to drag her that they dug up old podcast clips where she admitted (GASP) she doesn’t like Nashville’s bachelorette party culture. They called her a Marxist (OKAY???). They said she hates Christianity and country music (this *should* have no bearing in a country that respects the First Amendment, right???).
Republicans are also trying to distance Van Epps from his own party. They see the blue wave coming and are scrambling to reframe his image, running ads that call him an “American Patriot” while pointedly avoiding any mention of his Republican affiliation. Because even Republicans are realizing: there’s nothing more embarrassing right now than being a Republican.
Tomorrow
Election Day is December 2nd. Polls open as early as 7 a.m. in some counties, as late as 9 a.m. in others.
Will she win? The math is brutal. Van Epps is favored. But Behn was never supposed to be within 20 points. She was never supposed to force Republicans to spend millions defending this seat. She was never supposed to have a shot. And yet, here we are. Two points down with one day to go.
Whether Aftyn Behn wins or loses tomorrow, something has already shifted. She proved you can run as an authentic progressive in Trump country and make it a race. That when women refuse to be silenced and refuse to back down, we change what’s possible. This is what the future looks like: women who were told to be quiet, running in places they were told were unwinnable.
Aftyn Behn wouldn’t be silenced in 2019. She won’t be silenced now.
And tomorrow, we will find out if that’s enough.
What You Can Do
This is about turnout, Tennessee!
If you’re in the 7th District:
Polls open December 2. Find your polling location at the Tennessee Secretary of State website: [link removed] [ [link removed] ]
Bring your ID.
Bring friends.
Vote.
Share this article with one friend.
If you’re not in Tennessee or you already voted, you can volunteer for the campaign! Multiple virtual phone banks are still happening to GOTV tomorrow while polls are open:
Aftyn’s campaign Phone Bank [ [link removed] ]
PPVOTES/ TIRRC/ Equity Alliance Phone Bank [ [link removed] ]
Don’t forget to share this article with one friend.
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