Aftyn Behn Enters Striking Distance of Flipping a Deep-Red District in Tennessee

Ahead of the midterms, the battle for Tennessee's 7th district could reshape Congress

Photo — Aftyn for Congress (cropped)

In Tennessee, a progressive Democrat is on the cusp of flipping a deep-red district that Donald Trump last won by a staggering 22-point margin.

As the battle for Tennessee’s 7th congressional district is set to be decided on December 2nd, Aftyn Behn — a self-described “pissed-off” social worker and state representative — is hoping to carry momentum from recent victories in California, Virginia, New York, and New Jersey to move the Democrats one seat closer to prying the speaker’s gavel out of Mike Johnson’s hands in the U.S. House.

In a brutal indictment of the Trump’s failed leadership, polls show Aftyn Behn sitting just two points behind her MAGA rival, Matt Van Epps, despite her district’s longstanding history as a Republican stronghold. It is likely to be one of the last competitive federal elections held before next year’s midterms.

If Behn manages to flip the district, it could be one of the clearest bellwethers for a blue wave — or better yet, a blue tsunami — come 2026.

In the special election for Tennessee’s 7th district, Behn is vying to fill the vacancy left by former Republican Representative Mark Green, who shamefully retired in July after voting to pass Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” into law, cruel legislation that is set to kick millions of working Americans off their health insurance to fund tax breaks for billionaires.

As a result of the Republican cuts, rural communities, including those scattered across Tennessee, will be among the hardest hit by the inevitable closure of hospitals and nursing homes.

To correct Green’s corrupt and regressive legacy, Behn has made improving affordability and access to health care the hallmarks of her campaign, criticizing Trump’s deadly cuts under what she nicknames the “Big, Bullshit Bill.”

“In the Tennessee House, I’ve fought to eliminate the grocery tax. In Congress, I’ll fight to keep our hospitals and nursing homes open — and make sure no one loses healthcare because they can’t afford it,” Behn promises her voters.

Overall, her message is simple: “Feed kids, fix roads, and fund hospitals.”

Moreover, during her time on the campaign trail, she has repeatedly underscored the importance of uplifting younger Americans — a demographic that Democrats have struggled to reach in recent elections, including Kamala Harris’s fateful loss to Donald Trump in 2024.

“The economy is affecting both young people and older generations, like I see in Tennessee and especially in this Congressional race,” Behn told CNN earlier this year, as she urged national Democrats to embrace a progressive economic platform.

“These issues — cheaper groceries, affording rent — are issues that really resonate with young folks. If the Democratic Party can become a party of economic populism, that they can rein in both independents and young people.”

Aftyn Behn gets it: building an economy that works for everyone — not just the wealthiest among us — is the ticket to electing Democrats in every state.

Meanwhile, her Trump-backed opponent, Matt Van Epps, has disingenuously adopted a copy-cat approach, even advocating for healthcare reform, despite maintaining steadfast support for the president’s twisted policies.

Of course, these positions are mutually exclusive.

Make no mistake, actual supporters of economic populism would never stand behind Donald Trump’s job-killing tariffs, or his deadly cuts to health care. In Congress, Van Epps would become yet another MAGA sycophant who prioritizes loyalty to Trump over loyalty to his constituents — just like his predecessor.

By contrast, Behn will always put her community first, alongside the millions of working families across the country who will depend on Congress to build a prosperous post-Trump America.

Thankfully, while most voters have to wait until next November to rebut Republicans’ America-last agenda, Tennesseans have the chance to make their voices heard this December.

While early voting closes Wednesday, November 26, those who missed the deadline should make a plan to vote on election day, December 2nd, the week after Thanksgiving.

For those eligible to vote in Tennessee’s 7th district, don’t miss your opportunity to elect a compassionate and hard-working fighter to Congress who is ready to shake up Washington and hold Trump’s power in check.

If Aftyn Behn wins on Tuesday, her election could become the first crest of a blue wave that washes out MAGA extremism once and for all — and be an unmistakable sign that there are no “safe” seats for congressional Republicans in 2026, even in the deepest-red districts.

For more stories like these, follow us on Substack

Learn more at Aftyn for Congress