Aftyn Behn Defends Resurfaced 'I Hate the City' Podcast Line, Blames Tourists as She Highlights Health Care Agenda

06:48 AM, 11/23/2025

Aftyn Behn defended a 2020 podcast remark saying she "hated" aspects of Nashville, telling Rev. Al Sharpton her comments reflected frustration with tourists and local trends rather than a lack of love for the city. She emphasized her record on affordable health care and contrasted it with her Republican opponent, Matt Van Epps, as both parties invest heavily in the special election. The race has drawn major outside spending and high-profile surrogates amid polling that suggests Democrats have an edge on voter preference.

Tennessee state Rep. Aftyn Behn (D) pushed back Saturday after video clips resurfaced from a 2020 podcast in which she said she "hated" parts of her hometown of Nashville. Speaking with the Rev. Al Sharpton, Behn said the comments reflected frustration with tourist-driven trends — not a rejection of the city she represents.

Context and reaction. As Behn ramps up her campaign for Congress, Republicans have seized on the podcast remark and other past comments. Former President Trump has called her "the AOC of Tennessee," a label invoking Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), and GOP operatives have highlighted her statement that she does not like country music.

"As a Nashvillian, I think we all get a little annoyed with the tourists that come to town," Behn told Sharpton. "But that doesn’t mean I don’t love my city. Instead of sitting on the sideline and complaining about it, I decided to run for office — that’s why I’m the state representative who represents downtown Nashville."

Behn also used the interview to refocus attention on her policy priorities. She emphasized her long-standing work on making health care more affordable in Tennessee and contrasted that record with her Republican opponent, whom she accused of being "bought and sold by special interests."

The resurfaced 2020 clip contains blunt language: "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." Behn called those lines a candid expression of frustration about how tourism and certain trends have reshaped neighborhoods.

Race dynamics and spending. Behn is running in a special election against Republican Matt Van Epps, a candidate aligned with the MAGA wing of the party. The seat opened after Republican Mark Green resigned in July. The contest has attracted heavy spending: Republican-aligned groups have poured roughly $2 million into Van Epps' campaign, while Democratic groups — including a House Democratic super PAC — have committed roughly $1 million for television and digital ads. Former Vice President Kamala Harris recently campaigned for Behn in Nashville.

Behn and allies argue the race is competitive in part because many voters are concerned about rising health care and living costs. Sharpton pointed to a recent NPR/PBS/Marist poll showing 55% of voters would back a Democrat over a Republican if the midterms were held today; Behn said that sentiment reflects dissatisfaction with a Republican agenda she says favors wealthy interests over working families.

Bottom line. Behn maintains she loves Nashville while acknowledging frustration with certain tourism-driven changes. She is leaning on her health-care organizing record as the central message of a campaign that has become a high-profile battleground for both parties.