NASHVILLE, Tenn (WZTV) — It was a fairly mundane run-up to the December 2 special election in the 7th district congressional race until last week.
That’s when a five-year-old comment made by Democratic nominee Aftyn Behh of Nashville resurfaced. Speaking on her “Year Old Grits” podcast, Behn was talking about what’s going on in her life.
She said, “I’ve been heavily involved in the Nashville mayoral race because I hate this city, I hate the bachelorettes, I hate country music. I hate all the things that make Nashville apparently “IT CITY” to the rest of the country. But I hate it. I’m the girl at the airport– while all these girls are giddy and walking out in their two-tone colored Pantone pink shirts, and they’re like OMG Nashville– and so loud. So anyway, I’ve been heavily involved in the Nashville mayoral race. Honestly, it’s a blood bath. I’m sure relationships will be made and broken over this.”
FOX 17 News Anchor Scott Couch hosts a political roundtable Nashville in Focus with a panel of guests to discuss Music City’s biggest topics. (Photo: FOX 17 News)
Behn and her camp dismissed the comments, suggesting the Republicans are just bringing it up because she’s gaining ground on GOP nominee Matt Van Epps, Tennessee’s former Commissioner of General Services. Van Epps, a U.S. Army veteran with combat experience, has the “full and complete” endorsement of President Donald Trump, who has a lot of support across the Volunteer State.
The question is will those comments change people’s minds about whom they like in this race? It remains to be seen.
What it could do, however, is add incentive for those who support Van Epps to get to the poll and vote on a day when that race is the only thing on the ballot.
FOX 17 News spoke to a couple of Democratic voters at an early voting site last week. They were split on Behn’s comments. One said he believed the comments had been taken out of context and didn’t change his mind about supporting Behn. The other, however, suggested Behn should apologize daily and said if he could, he would take back his vote for her.
The district was drawn by the Republican controlled legislature, and it was going to be a heavy lift for Behn or any Democrat to win it.
Ultimately, the voters will decide how much weight to give Aftyn Behn’s comments and whether she really “hates” Nashville.
See the full segment of Nashville in Focus above.
