Aftyn Behn
Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives
from the 51st district
Assumed office
October 4, 2023
Preceded byAnthony Davis
Personal details
Born (1989-11-24) November 24, 1989
Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of Texas at Austin

Aftyn Alyssa Behn (born November 24, 1989) is an American politician and a Democratic representative for District 51 in the Tennessee House of Representatives.

Early life and education

Behn was born on November 24, 1989, in Knoxville, Tennessee.[1] She graduated from the Webb School of Knoxville in 2008.[2] Behn earned Liberal Arts Honors and Psychology Honors degrees from University of Texas at Austin graduating in 2012.[3]

Career

Community organizing

In 2017, Behn began working as the healthcare community organizer for the Tennessee Justice Center.[4] She's currently the Campaign Director for RuralOrganizing.org, overseeing the organization's electoral strategy.[5]

Political activism

In 2018, Behn was the lead organizer for Enough is Enough TN, a campaign advocating for the expulsion of State Represnetative David Byrd after being accused of sexually assaulting underage women.[6] She was removed from the Tennessee House of Representatives visitor's gallery in 2019 after interrupting a legislative session to protest the speakership of Glen Casada.[7] Behn opposed the 2023 Tennessee House of Representatives expulsions and organized protests outside the State Capitol.[8]

Tennessee House of Representatives

In 2023, after the death of five-term State Representative Bill Beck, Behn campaigned in a special election for the Tennessee House of Representatives 51st district. She was endorsed by Representative Gloria Johnson, Middle Tennessee Democratic Socialists of America, and Tennessee AFL-CIO.[9][10] The Nashville Metro Council appointed former councilmember Anthony Davis to serve as interim representative until the special election in September.[11] Behn defeated Davis in the August 3 primary with 53.46% of the vote.[12] She won the general election with 75.61% of the vote.[13]

On November 20, Behn announced her legislative proposal to repeal the Tennessee sales tax on groceries.[14]

References

  1. ↑ "Aftyn Behn". Nashville.gov. Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Text me briefs: Apr. 15". Knoxville News Sentinel. Gannett. April 15, 2008. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Aftyn Behn". The Forge. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  4. ↑ "A Call to Arms on Health Care". Memphis Flyer. July 13, 2017.
  5. ↑ "We Are Rural Organizing". ruralorganizing.com. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  6. ↑ Haggard, Amanda (May 9, 2023). "Faces of Local Activism". Nashville Scene.
  7. ↑ Horan, Kyle (May 2, 2019). "Woman removed from house chamber for outburst at Speaker". WTVF. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  8. ↑ Owens, Mye (April 6, 2023). "Thousands expected to march at State Capitol in favor of the 'Tennessee Three' and gun reform". WKRN.
  9. ↑ "Primary School 8/3". August 3, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  10. ↑ Hansen, Alyssa (August 17, 2023). "TN AFL-CIO Endorses Aftyn Behn in Upcoming House District 51 Special Election".
  11. ↑ Rau, Nate (June 21, 2023). "Nashville council appoint Anthony Davis to state House". Axios. Cox Enterprises. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  12. ↑ Brown, Melissa (August 3, 2023). "Progressive organizer Aftyn Behn edges out interim Rep. Anthony Davis in House 51 primary". The Tennessean. Gannett. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  13. ↑ Posey, Sebastian (September 14, 2023). "Nashville, Tennessee Runoff Election Results: September 14, 2023". WKRN. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  14. ↑ Jones, Vivian (November 20, 2023). "Tennessee Democrats seek elimination of 4% grocery sales tax". The Tennessean.
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