When you're running for public office, one thing you don't want to do is to say anything related to hating the community/city/state you seek to represent.
And yet that is exactly the situation Aftyn Behn, a woke, pro-Mamdani Democrat in the Tennessee state legislature, finds herself in with less than two weeks to go before the special election for the state's 7th Congressional District.
Behn, who is the Democrat nominee in the race, is under the microscope this week after comments she made during a 2020 podcast about hating Nashville resurfaced, as we reported.
"I hate the city, I hate the bachelorettes, I hate the pedal taverns, I hate country music, I hate all of the things that make Nashville apparently an 'it city' to the rest of the country," Behn said at the time. She's also tried to impede immigration enforcement operations in her state, and wrote an op-ed in 2019, when she was a community organizer, referring to the state's residents as racists.
READ MORE: Another Crazy Leftist Running for Congress, This Time in a Red State
So, when you're someone who has had receipts dropped on you like Behn has in her race against Trump-backed GOP nominee Matt Van Epps, what do you do? For Behn, the answer has been to lie and gaslight about it:
"Today, the republicans decided that they are going to start this narrative that me, the state representative who represents downtown Nashville, doesn't like the city," she said.
[...]
"Sure, I get mad at the bachelorettes sometimes, I get mad at the pedal taverns, right?" she said.
But she clarifies she does like Nashville as a whole.
"You are talking to someone who has cried no less than 10 times in the Country Music Hall of Fame," said Behn.
Watch:
NO, I DO NOT HATE THE CITY I REPRESENT 🤣🤣🤣
— Aftyn Behn for Congress (@aftynfortn) November 21, 2025
The national GOP's new attack? That I “hate Nashville." I’ve cried in the Country Music Hall of Fame no less than 10 times. They’re panicking because we’re close to winning. Eyes on the prize, y’all. Let’s go. pic.twitter.com/jjwMnyW8ZU
Yeah - like a typical self-loathing leftist, she does hate it. It's all on tape:
🚨Democrat Aftyn Behn is running in the Tennessee 7th district special election.
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) November 20, 2025
The problem is she hates the very place she wants to represent!
“I hate the city…the bachelorettes…country music, I hate all of the things that make Nashville!" pic.twitter.com/erjoBdNmEs
The 7th Congressional District was previously represented by former Rep. Mark Green until he resigned in June to work in the private sector. It's considered a "safe R" district, but Democrats and Republicans alike have both poured big money into it in recent weeks, with Democrats perhaps seeing an opening after the November elections in Virginia and New Jersey, and Republicans no doubt understanding that their slim majority in the House needs protecting.
Hakeem Jeffries' super pac is spending $1 MILLION on behalf of Aftyn Behn who is running in TN-7 who won't even endorse Hakeem to be leader.
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) November 21, 2025
Further, Nashville hater Aftyn Behn is going to lose this race.
How do HMP's donors feel about incinerating $1 million dollars in… https://t.co/EUGXEDmvVc pic.twitter.com/7zLt1v58pw
Early voting is already underway, and Election Day for this one is December 2nd. We'll keep you posted.
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