Tennessee Democrat Aftyn Behn Running On Extreme Abortion Stance In Deep Red State

Aftyn Behn, the Democratic nominee running in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District special election, repeatedly said in recent years she would be willing to get arrested for abortion advocacy.

Behn, a state representative, is seeking to replace Rep. Mark Green, who resigned from office earlier this year, and is running against Republican Matt Van Epps, who’s been endorsed by President Donald Trump.

“What is the positive if there is a silver lining? What this does not mean for Tennessee is that groups on the ground will continue to provide training in terms of self-managed abortions, and so, instead of going to a doctor because we won’t have any doctors that provide abortions, how do you do it at home?” she said in a May 2022 conversation with the Tennessee Holler.

“We’ll continue to figure out how to get abortion pills to people. So the organizing does not stop just because Roe is overturned,” Behn continued.

In August 2022, Tennessee made most abortions illegal unless there is a “medical emergency.” Behn was part of a lawsuit against the state’s 2024 law signed by Republican Gov. Bill Lee that “creates the criminal offense of abortion trafficking of a minor; provides for a civil action against a person committing the offense of abortion trafficking of a minor if certain conditions are met.”

The Democrat told the Nashville Scene in April 2024 that she would be open to getting arrested for violating the law.

“I think most importantly, we’ll see the increased criminalization of people seeking abortions and those assisting them. So I anticipate lots of bail funds for women seeking abortions, getting caught getting abortions, women like myself that plan to travel with women getting arrested. And we’ll also see increased surveillance, policing, and fear. So we are really living in a dystopian reality, I tell you ladies and gents. It’s not great,” the Democrat said earlier in the conversation.

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As for the 2024 law regarding abortions for minors outside of Tennessee without parental consent, Axios reported that a federal judge prevented some aspects of the law from going into effect following the Behn-backed lawsuit, over the “recruitment” element of the law due to free speech concerns, but kept other noteworthy parts of the legislation.

Tennessee Advocates for Planned Parenthood is backing Behn in the special election, saying in a recent Instagram post that she “is a champion of reproductive rights with a proven track record of voting for and sponsoring legislation that would protect access to sexual and reproductive health care, and preserve our rights to our own bodies.”

Sixty percent of the district in which Behn is running voted for Trump, and nearly 60% voted for Green in 2024.

Still, Democrats are eager to see it as a pick-up opportunity following off-year election victories in Virginia, New Jersey, and Georgia earlier this month, with the House Majority PAC pouring $1 million into advertisements for the race, Politico reported. Cook Political Report ranks the race as “Likely Republican.”

The Daily Wire reached out to the Behn campaign for comment. The Democrat is already under fire for remarks she made in a 2020 clip.

“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. But I hate it,” she said at the time.

Behn said in a post after the clip went viral that, “NO, I DO NOT HATE THE CITY I REPRESENT.”

“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,” she continued.

In addition, Fox News reported on old remarks from Behn criticizing law enforcement.

Election Day is December 2.