Democrat in Tennessee Congressional Race Stands by Past Remarks
A Democratic state legislator, Aftin Behn, who is campaigning for a U.S. House seat in Tennessee’s special election, did not retract her previous statements against law enforcement and her criticisms of Nashville during a CNN interview.
Behn, running against Republican Matt Van Epps in the 7th Congressional District, faced questions from “Inside Politics” host Manu Raju regarding her social media activity during the George Floyd protests in 2020. Some of these posts supported the idea of burning police stations and called to “defund the police.” Raju also inquired if she supports the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and if she regrets a video clip in which she stated she “hates” Nashville.
Raju highlighted a specific post from 2020 that Behn later deleted, which read, “Good morning, especially to the 54% of Americans who believe burning police stations is justified.” He asked if she regrets making such comments.
In her defense, Behn remarked that she shared her views as a “civilian” amid a national movement for “accountability and safer policing.” She mentioned that she believes in investing in community safety now, noting that she wouldn’t make similar posts today.
Raju pressed her about a podcast from 2020 where she expressed disdain for Nashville, the city she’s aiming to represent. In that clip, she declared, “I hate this city, I hate bachelors, I hate pedal taverns, I hate country music, I hate everything that makes Nashville so obviously an ‘it’ city to the rest of the country. But I hate it.”
When asked if she regretted those comments, Behn maintained her stance, reiterating that her feelings were shared as a civilian at the time.
Behn explained, “Nashville is my hometown.” She elaborated that many locals might feel frustrated by events like bachelorette parties obstructing their access. She emphasized that this election goes beyond her comments—it’s about families struggling with rising costs while politicians in Washington focus on trivial matters.
The 7th Congressional District, known as a Republican stronghold, saw President Trump win by around 22 points in 2024, though it includes parts of Democratic-leaning Nashville.
During the interview, Behn sidestepped questions on whether ICE should be eliminated or if immigration enforcement efforts in Nashville should cease. Raju noted that Behn has been dubbed “Tennessee’s AOC” due to her association with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who advocates for abolishing ICE. Behn again avoided a direct answer, stating her campaign is centered on alleviating costs for working families.
