Democratic candidate Aftyn Behn declined to walk back a 2020 social media post referencing Americans who believe burning down a police station is justified during a recent appearance on MS NOW. The exchange, in which she avoided directly answering whether she still stands by the comments, has intensified scrutiny of her past statements as she campaigns for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District against Republican Matt Van Epps.
Democrat Aftyn Behn of Knoxville, who is running in the special election for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, was pressed over the weekend on MS NOW — the cable network that succeeded MSNBC’s weekend programming — about now‑deleted 2020 tweets related to policing.
According to reporting from the Daily Wire, one of Behn’s deleted posts on X said: “Good morning, especially to the 54% of Americans that believe burning down a police station is justified.”(dailywire.com) Conservative outlets including the Daily Caller and Breitbart likewise reported that Behn suggested in those tweets that burning down police stations is justified and that the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department should be dissolved.(dailycaller.com)(breitbart.com) The original posts do not appear to be publicly accessible.
During an appearance on MS NOW’s program "The Weekend," co‑host Catherine Rampell recited Behn’s past tweets and asked whether she still stands by those remarks from 2020. “Do you still stand by those comments? And if not, is there anything you want to clarify?” Rampell said, according to transcripts and clips circulated by several outlets.(dailycaller.com)(breitbart.com)
Behn responded, “I’m not going to engage in cable news talking points, but what I will say is that, you know, our communities need solutions. We need local people deciding, solving local problems with local solutions. And that’s not the overreach of a federal government or state government, of which we are dealing with in Nashville and our cities across the state of Tennessee,” she said, declining to directly answer whether she still supports the earlier statements.(dailycaller.com)(breitbart.com) As Rampell continued to press her, Behn said she did not remember the specific tweets and emphasized that she is focused on her current congressional race.(dailycaller.com)
Behn has also come under renewed criticism for past remarks about Nashville, which includes parts of the 7th District. In an unearthed 2020 podcast clip reported by the Daily Wire, Behn said: “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.”(dailywire.com) After the comments resurfaced, Behn later said she does not hate Nashville, according to local coverage referenced by the outlet, though the full context of her clarification has not been widely published.
Separately, Behn has aligned herself with progressive causes on issues including abortion and transgender rights. The Daily Wire has reported that she has expressed willingness to engage in civil disobedience over abortion restrictions and has pledged to fight for protections for transgender youth, though these positions were not the focus of the MS NOW interview.(dailywire.com)
Behn’s Republican opponent, Matt Van Epps, is a U.S. Military Academy at West Point graduate and combat veteran who has served in multiple roles in Tennessee Governor Bill Lee’s administration, including as deputy chief operating officer in the Governor’s Office and, more recently, as commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services.(tn.gov)(chattanoogan.com) His campaign biography says he served three years as deputy chief operating officer and continues to serve in the Tennessee Army National Guard.(mattfortn.com)
Campaign materials and conservative media describe Van Epps as a strong supporter of former President Donald Trump’s agenda. Van Epps has said he will work with Trump to advance “America First” policies if elected, highlighting issues such as national security and what he calls Tennessee values.(tennesseestar.com)(mattfortn.com)
Right‑leaning commentators have portrayed Behn as ideologically aligned with left‑wing figures in New York and elsewhere, including democratic socialist New York Assembly member Zohran Mamdani, though Behn’s own characterization of that comparison has not been independently documented beyond partisan commentary.
A special election for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District is scheduled this year after the departure of Republican Rep. Mark Green, but the precise date has varied in early reporting and official notices. Initial accounts suggested the race would be held in early December; state election authorities have since issued formal guidance on the timetable, and voters have been advised to consult the Tennessee Secretary of State’s office or their local election commission for the final, legally binding election date.
