State Rep. Aftyn Behn talks about the current climate in Tennessee – and predicts a dark future after the devastating results of a decade and a half of complete GOP control. She even calls out vouchers as among the key policy blunders the GOP seems eager to expand:
Tennessee’s private school voucher program has already jumped from 20,000 seats to 35,000 in its second year, estimating a cost of $260 million by 2027… states like Arizona with similar voucher programs are staring down billion-dollar holes in their budget, with local counties hemorrhaging revenue with limited ability to fill the gaps
Behn’s record reflects strong support for public schools
State Rep. Aftyn Behn is now the Democratic nominee for the 7th District Congressional seat vacated by Republican Mark Green. Behn now faces Trump-backed Matt Van Epps in the general election taking place in early December.
As a community organizer, Behn coordinated efforts to defend public education and oppose Gov. Lee’s school privatization schemes.
As a legislator, Behn has supported expanding the state’s Pre-K program to be available for all kids.
State Rep. Aftyn Behn a candidate for Tennessee’s 7th House District
A Tennessee State Representative with a reputation for hardcore community organizing and a passion for defending public education is now a candidate for Congress.
Behn focused her announcement on her work as an organizer – work that paid off when she defeated a popular Metro Council member in the primary for House District 51.
I’ve seen it as a social worker, sitting with families of kids with disabilities who can’t get the care they need — parents forced to take dead-end jobs just to scrape by, instead of being able to stay home and care for their own children. As a legislator, I’ve heard it firsthand, picking up the phone for my constituents who’ve been waiting years for their SSDI to come through, or who were kicked off TennCare with nowhere else to turn.
Our country is broken. Our systems are broken. And the billionaires and corrupt politicians who broke them are getting richer than ever, while pointing the finger at immigrants and trans kids to distract us from who’s really to blame.
While Behn has organized around the state on healthcare issues, she’s also been a strong advocate for Nashville and Tennessee public schools.
