Resurfaced 2020 Clip: Aftyn Behn Says She 'Hates' Nashville and Country Music Ahead of Dec. 2 Special Election

A 2020 podcast clip of Democratic congressional candidate Aftyn Behn has resurfaced days before the Dec. 2 special election for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District. In the clip, Behn bluntly criticized Nashville and elements of its cultural scene, a remark that has drawn sharp attack from opponents and renewed attention to a closely watched race.

"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."

Behn, a state representative and former health-care community organizer, is the Democratic nominee in the special election to fill the seat vacated when Rep. Mark Green resigned in June. She faces Republican Matt Van Epps, a former state official who won a crowded GOP primary and has a high-profile endorsement from former President Donald Trump.

District and political context

Tennessee's 7th District stretches through central and western parts of the state, from the Kentucky border toward Alabama. It is generally considered a solidly Republican district; President Donald Trump carried it by roughly 22 points in the 2024 election. Still, the district includes portions of Nashville — including north and west Nashville and parts of downtown — which contain pockets of Democratic voters and the city's prominent music industry presence.

Reaction and campaign messaging

Republicans and allied outside groups quickly seized on the resurfaced audio. National Republican organizations framed the remark as evidence that Behn is out of step with constituents, while citing a 2019 opinion piece in which Behn criticized the state's political culture as further justification for their attacks.

Behn's campaign pushed back, arguing opponents are distracting from policy debates. Her team said she will focus on lowering costs for Tennessee families — including proposing to eliminate the state's grocery tax — and protecting health-care access.

Outside spending and national attention have elevated the contest. A Trump-aligned super PAC has launched a seven-figure ad buy, and Republican groups have invested heavily to defend the seat and preserve the GOP's narrow House majority. Democrats, citing recent electoral momentum, say the race offers an opportunity to pick up a competitive district.

Why it matters

Beyond the local dynamics, the special election is being treated as a national test of party momentum and messaging. For Republicans, holding the seat helps preserve a slim House majority; for Democrats, overperforming in a deep-red district could signal broader gains. With both parties devoting resources and national figures engaging in the contest, the Dec. 2 vote will be watched by political observers across the country.