Liberal Democrat State Rep. Aftyn Behn has announced her plans for the 2026 election year.
After losing her race to fill the seat for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District by nearly 10 points, Behn announced on Monday that she will not run again for U.S. Congress. Instead, she plans to seek re-election to her current State House seat in Nashville.
“After long conversations with my family, my team, and my House District constituents, I have decided not to seek the Democratic nomination for the Seventh Congressional District again,” she said in a written statement. “This decision is about keeping myself and my family safe while continuing to care loudly for my constituents.”
She said the cost of her high-profile Special Election run factored into her decision.
“I need to be honest about the emotional and mental cost of this race. For months, I endured a constant daily deluge of violent rape and death threats, digital stalking and harassment directed at my immediate family, and feared for my safety throughout,” the lawmaker wrote. “The toll on my emotional and physical health was profound, and I will need months to recuperate.”
Behn represents Tennessee’s District 51, which makes up part of Davidson County. In 2023, she became the youngest woman elected to the Tennessee House.
