Democrat Aftyn Behn’s police rhetoric sparks controversy in Tennessee race
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A Democratic congressional candidate in Tennessee is facing backlash for past posts calling for the abolition of the Nashville Police Department, while his GOP rival is urging voters to “stand with law enforcement.”
The controversy erupted ahead of Tennessee’s Dec. 2 special election, where Democrats poured more than $1 million into the race to support candidate Aftyn Behn against Republican candidate Matt Van Epps. Behn’s deleted tweets from 2020 resurfaced as a major talking point in the latest episode.
“This is unacceptable and disqualifying,” Van Epps said Tuesday on “Fox & Friends First.”
Democratic congressional candidate Tennessee State Representative Aftyn Behn attends a campaign event during the special election for Tennessee’s 7th District on November 13 in Nashville, Tennessee. (George Walker IV/AP Photos)
“My opponent, as a sitting state legislator, is harassing and bullying ICE and the Tennessee Highway Patrol, which is unacceptable. We are the exact opposite of that,” he added.
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Behn’s posts have since been deleted. Two tweets dated June 3, 2020, read: “Good morning, especially to the 54% of Americans who believe burning down a police station was justified” and “Where is the proposal to repeal @MNPDNashville?”
During an interview on MS NOW, Behn declined to clarify her current stance on law enforcement and the posts, telling “The Weekend” host Catherine Rampell: “I’m not [going to] Join the cable news talking points.”
Republican congressional candidate Matt Van Epps hugs a supporter during a campaign event for the Tennessee 7th District special election in Nashville, Tenn., on Nov. 12. (George Walker IV/AP Photo)
Behn is a Democratic state representative running against Van Epps to represent Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District. Both candidates are seeking to replace former GOP Rep. Mark Green, who resigned from Congress earlier this year to take a job in the private sector.
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Van Epps, a West Point graduate and war veteran, labeled Behn as too left-wing for the state and positioned himself as a conservative focused on traditional values.
“We cannot allow a radical to come to power here, and that is my opponent,” Van Epps said.
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“There are things that are not right for Tennessee, things that are not right for America, and we need people to stand with us to move America First forward.”
Democrats contributed more than $1 million to the effort to flip a red seat blue. Meanwhile, MAGA Inc., the political group backing President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign, has released ads supporting Van Epps. Trump had endorsed Van Epps ahead of the special election primary earlier this year.
