Aftyn Behn

Aftyn Behn
Behn in 2025
Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives
from the 51st district
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 4, 2023
Preceded byAnthony Davis
Personal details
Born (1989-11-24) November 24, 1989
Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of Texas at Austin (BA, MSW)
WebsiteCampaign website

Aftyn Alyssa Behn (/beɪn/ BAYN; born November 24, 1989) is an American politician who has represented the 51st district of the Tennessee House of Representatives since 2023.[1] Before being elected to office, Behn worked in social services and community advocacy, including serving as a healthcare organizer for the Tennessee Justice Center. She was the Democratic nominee in the 2025 special election for Tennessee's 7th congressional district, and was defeated in the general election by Republican Matt Van Epps.[2][3]

Early life and education

Behn was born on November 24, 1989, in Knoxville, Tennessee.[4] As a child, she was a Girl Scout and visited the Tennessee House of Representatives chamber; she later earned the organization's highest honor, the Girl Scout Gold Award.[5]

Behn graduated from the Webb School of Knoxville in 2008, completing her high school education.[6][7] She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and earned bachelor's degrees in liberal arts and psychology in 2012. She went on to complete a master's degree at the Steve Hicks School of Social Work in 2016 with a focus on administration and policy practice, and earned a portfolio certificate from the Texas Center for Disability Studies.[8] During her final year, she completed a practicum in Switzerland at the United Nations High Commission on Refugees.[5]

Early career

Behn began her work as a healthcare community organizer for the Tennessee Justice Center in Nashville in 2017.[9] The next year, she became the lead organizer for Enough is Enough TN, a campaign advocating for the expulsion of state representative David Byrd following accusations of sexual assault against underage girls.[10] In 2019, Behn was removed from the Tennessee House chambers during a protest against Byrd's continued service; she shouted at Speaker Glen Casada and was cited and released from police custody the same day.[11] She remained active in state politics, opposing the 2023 Tennessee House of Representatives expulsions and organizing protests outside the State Capitol.[12]

Political career

Tennessee House of Representatives

In 2023, after the death of five-term state representative Bill Beck, Behn campaigned in a special election for the 51st district of the Tennessee House of Representatives. She was endorsed by Gloria Johnson, Tennessee College Democrats, the Tennessee AFL-CIO, Equity Alliance Fund, and the Democratic Socialists of Middle Tennessee.[13][14][15][16] The Nashville Metro Council appointed former councilmember Anthony Davis to serve as interim representative until the special election in September.[17] Behn defeated Davis in the August primary with 53.46% of the vote.[18] She won the general election with 75.61% of the vote.[19]

On November 20, 2023, Behn announced her legislative proposal to repeal the Tennessee sales tax on groceries.[20] On June 24, 2024, she and Nashville attorney Rachel Welty filed a lawsuit against the state of Tennessee challenging a law passed during the 2025 legislation that they believe criminalizes certain speech in violation of the First Amendment. A federal judge temporarily blocked the law in September 2024.[21] On December 2, 2024, Behn announced legislation to codify the Equal Rights Amendment in the Tennessee constitution.[22]

In 2024, Behn partnered with Republican Todd Warner to sponsor bipartisan legislation aimed at reforming how the Tennessee General Assembly handles workplace harassment and discrimination complaints. Their bill, House Bill 2533, proposed shifting the investigation process from internal legislative oversight to an independent liaison working with the state attorney general's office. This move was intended to increase transparency and reduce political interference in handling sensitive allegations.[23]

In May 2025, Behn followed ICE around Nashville and filmed herself confronting agents as they conducted their patrols. Federal officials, including U.S. Representative Andy Ogles, accused Behn of obstructing law enforcement operations.[24] Behn condemned a May 2025 operation by ICE in South Nashville that resulted in the arrest of a number of immigrants. Behn stated that ICE had cooperated with the Tennessee Highway Patrol "to carry out what can only be described as a dragnet", and said that, according to witnesses, children had been left in vehicles as their mothers were detained.[25][26]

Committee assignments

  • Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee[27]
  • Disaster Relief Committee of Extraordinary Session[27]
  • Naming & Designating Committee[27]
  • Transportation Committee[27]

U.S. House campaign

Main article: 2025 Tennessee's 7th congressional district special election

On July 9, 2025, Behn announced she would run in the special election for Tennessee's 7th congressional district.[28] The election was triggered by the resignation of Republican Mark Green, who took a private sector job after voting to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.[29][30][31]

Behn defeated fellow state representatives Vincent Dixie and Bo Mitchell, as well as businessman Darden Copeland, in the Democratic primary on October 7, 2025.[32] She was defeated by Republican Matt Van Epps in the general election on December 2, 2025.[33] The campaign was highly publicized, receiving attention from national political leaders from both parties.[34]

Electoral history

Democratic primary results[35]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Aftyn Behn 8,653 27.89%
Democratic Darden Copeland 7,720 24.88%
Democratic Bo Mitchell 7,498 24.17%
Democratic Vincent Dixie 7,153 23.06%
Total votes 31,024 100.00%
2025 Tennessee's 7th congressional district special election[36]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Matt Van Epps 96,988 53.91% −5.59
Democratic Aftyn Behn 81,044 45.05% +7.00
Independent Jon Thorp 932 0.52% N/A
Independent Terri Christie 610 0.34% N/A
Independent Bobby Dodge 196 0.11% N/A
Independent Robert Sutherby 129 0.07% N/A
Total votes 179,899 100.00%

References

  1. ^ Sauter, Danica (October 4, 2023). "Aftyn Behn, youngest woman elected to Tennessee House, sworn in". WSMV-TV Channel 4. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  2. ^ "Tennessee House Special Election 2025 Live Results: Matt Van Epps Wins, NBC News Projects". www.nbcnews.com. December 3, 2025. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
  3. ^ Windsor, Brandon (October 1, 2025). "Why the Republican Primary May Decide Tennessee's 7th District". TNPOLITICO. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  4. ^ "Aftyn Behn". Nashville.gov. Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Jones, Vivian (November 13, 2025). "'A lifelong Girl Scout' from Knoxville to the statehouse, who is Aftyn Behn?". The Tennessean.
  6. ^ "Text me briefs: Apr. 15". Knoxville News Sentinel. Gannett. April 15, 2008. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  7. ^ Rickmeyer, Kathryn. "Meet the AOC of Tennessee: Aftyn Behn will be sworn into the Tennessee House of Representatives Wednesday". www.tennbeat.com. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
  8. ^ "Aftyn Behn". The Forge. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  9. ^ "A Call to Arms on Health Care". Memphis Flyer. July 13, 2017.
  10. ^ Haggard, Amanda (May 9, 2023). "Faces of Local Activism". Nashville Scene.
  11. ^ Horan, Kyle (May 2, 2019). "Woman removed from house chamber for outburst at Speaker". WTVF. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  12. ^ Owens, Mye (April 6, 2023). "Thousands expected to march at State Capitol in favor of the 'Tennessee Three' and gun reform". WKRN.
  13. ^ Tagliaferro, Nick (August 3, 2023). "Primary School 8/3". Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  14. ^ Hansen, Alyssa (August 17, 2023). "TN AFL-CIO Endorses Aftyn Behn in Upcoming House District 51 Special Election".
  15. ^ "August 2024 Endorsements". theequityalliancefund.org. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  16. ^ Stockard, Sam (July 31, 2023). "Behn, Davis top contenders in 51st House race to fill Beck's post". Tennessee Lookout. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  17. ^ Rau, Nate (June 21, 2023). "Nashville council appoint Anthony Davis to state House". Axios. Cox Enterprises. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  18. ^ Brown, Melissa (August 3, 2023). "Progressive organizer Aftyn Behn edges out interim Rep. Anthony Davis in House 51 primary". The Tennessean. Gannett. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  19. ^ Posey, Sebastian (September 14, 2023). "Nashville, Tennessee Runoff Election Results: September 14, 2023". WKRN. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  20. ^ Jones, Vivian (November 20, 2023). "Tennessee Democrats seek elimination of 4% grocery sales tax". The Tennessean.
  21. ^ Kruesi, Kimberlee (September 20, 2024). "Federal judge temporarily blocks Tennessee's 'abortion trafficking' law". Associated Press.
  22. ^ Taylor, Sarah (December 3, 2024). "THE LEDE". Nashville Banner. Archived from the original on December 4, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  23. ^ Stockard, Sam (March 12, 2024). "Republican, Democrat team up to move harassment investigations to new liaison, attorney general • Tennessee Lookout". Tennessee Lookout. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  24. ^ Garcia, Tony (May 14, 2025). "TN Rep. Andy Ogles calls for investigation into Nashville leadership for obstructing ICE operations". WSMV-TV. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
  25. ^ McCall, J. Holly (May 4, 2025). "Immigration and Customs Enforcement "dragnet" in Nashville results in detentions". Tennessee Lookout. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
  26. ^ Bacallao, Marianna (May 4, 2025). "ICE arrests drivers in South Nashville, sparking outrage from local officials". WPLN. Archived from the original on December 2, 2025. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
  27. ^ a b c d "Representatives - TN General Assembly". wapp.capitol.tn.gov. Retrieved November 29, 2025.
  28. ^ Jackson, Aubriella (July 9, 2025). "State Rep. Aftyn Behn announces congressional run". WKRN.com. WKRN. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  29. ^ Masters, Hamilton Matthew (June 9, 2025). "Rep. Mark Green Announces Resignation". Nashville Scene. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  30. ^ Mattise, Jonathan (June 9, 2025). "GOP House Homeland chairman Green to retire from Congress early". apnews.com. Associated Press. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  31. ^ Puente, Kelly (July 7, 2025). "US Rep. Mark Green will step down July 20. Who could replace him?". tennessean.com. The Tennessean. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  32. ^ Gascon, Melvin (October 16, 2025). "The rise of Aftyn Behn in Tennessee". The Tennessee Tribune.
  33. ^ Rau, Nate (July 15, 2025). "Dixie officially enters District 7 congressional race". axios.com. Axios. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  34. ^ "Tennessee House Special Election 2025 Live Results: Matt Van Epps Wins, NBC News Projects". www.nbcnews.com. December 3, 2025. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
  35. ^ "United States House of Representatives District 7 Democratic Primary" (PDF). elections.tn.gov. October 8, 2025. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  36. ^ Hargett, Tre (December 2, 2025). "United States House of Representatives District 7". Tennessee Secretary of State. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
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