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angrychair

(11,709 posts)
Tue Dec 2, 2025, 09:34 PM Dec 2

Appreciation thread for Aftyn Behn

She exceeded all expectations is a shitler +22 district. She stayed true to her progressive democratic messaging until the very end and showed that you don't have to move to the center to do good or even win, deep red districts.

IT ALSO PUT REPUBLICANS ON NOTICE THAT AN R +10 OR +15 DISTRICT IS NO LONGER SAFE

Thank you Ms. Behn for running one hell of a race and showing us what is possible.

24 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Appreciation thread for Aftyn Behn (Original Post) angrychair Dec 2 OP
I still believe and support her! ZDU Dec 2 #1
11 months I hope to see her WIN!! Ars Longa Dec 2 #2
11 mos, Aftyn! SheltieLover Dec 2 #3
She did very well in spite of not winning MustLoveBeagles Dec 2 #4
I'll send some leopards to the district IzzaNuDay Dec 2 #5
SO many faces evolves Dec 2 #6
A true fighter. I hope we see more of her. sarchasm Dec 2 #7
She's a rising star! nt 2 Meow Momma Dec 2 #8
Here's wishing for better luck next year RazorbackExpat Dec 2 #9
She impressed me. Emile Dec 2 #10
I was so looking forward to what she would do in congress Danascot Dec 3 #11
Yes. Hang in there Aftyn. You'll get another shot at it down the road, either for that seat or another in Tennessee. KPN Dec 3 #12
Yes! Thank you! liberalla Dec 3 #13
This was a gerrymandered District created to ensure that Nashville.... 70sEraVet Dec 3 #14
She is a spitfire with a big future Deminpenn Dec 3 #15
I had made a pledge not to donate any more money to non Texas candidates. Never seems to make a difference efhmc Dec 3 #16
An Extremely Impressive Candidate, Unafraid to Take on a Huge Challenge! The Roux Comes First Dec 3 #17
I wish we could clone her - we need a zillion of her in Texas TBF Dec 3 #18
This is how it's done MakeThemCry Dec 3 #19
Post removed Post removed Dec 3 #20
Just not true angrychair Dec 3 #22
I wish I had your optimism. Gimpyknee Dec 3 #24
Though she lost, my $25 donaton was well worth it! nt Exp Dec 3 #21
The Democratic party has a history Buzz cook Dec 3 #23

IzzaNuDay

(1,241 posts)
5. I'll send some leopards to the district
Tue Dec 2, 2025, 10:00 PM
Dec 2

I bet there will be FAFO moments and fresh faces waiting for the next calamity in the district.

Danascot

(5,163 posts)
11. I was so looking forward to what she would do in congress
Wed Dec 3, 2025, 10:08 AM
Dec 3

I hope she enters the race in 11 months or another contest in the future. She's too good to be sidelined.

KPN

(17,146 posts)
12. Yes. Hang in there Aftyn. You'll get another shot at it down the road, either for that seat or another in Tennessee.
Wed Dec 3, 2025, 12:35 PM
Dec 3

70sEraVet

(5,252 posts)
14. This was a gerrymandered District created to ensure that Nashville....
Wed Dec 3, 2025, 01:00 PM
Dec 3

will NEVER have the opportunity to send another Democrat to Congress.
Aftyn gave the Republican super-majority one hell of a headache!
She may be successful next time!

Deminpenn

(17,299 posts)
15. She is a spitfire with a big future
Wed Dec 3, 2025, 01:26 PM
Dec 3

Her concession speech didn't have a lot of "concession" in it. Loved that she said when she called her opponent, she gave him a list of things he better do.

It won't surprise me at all if there's a rematch next Nov, she wins.

efhmc

(16,092 posts)
16. I had made a pledge not to donate any more money to non Texas candidates. Never seems to make a difference
Wed Dec 3, 2025, 01:47 PM
Dec 3

and I never even see their ads. Well, she impressed me so much that I sent money twice. Still never saw an ad. Our county in Texas is so red we cannot even get people to run. Congrats to her for starting her political career. I hope she does not give up the fight. You go Girl!!!

TBF

(35,688 posts)
18. I wish we could clone her - we need a zillion of her in Texas
Wed Dec 3, 2025, 04:26 PM
Dec 3

getting people to run, especially in the low-level races where folks get started, is incredibly difficult

MakeThemCry

(32 posts)
19. This is how it's done
Wed Dec 3, 2025, 04:35 PM
Dec 3

No corporate nonsense, and you tell your voters what exactly you will DO for them.

This is the way forward.

Response to angrychair (Original post)

angrychair

(11,709 posts)
22. Just not true
Wed Dec 3, 2025, 05:52 PM
Dec 3

She over-performed in an R+22 district, coming within single digits of winning. She did that while being an unapologetic Progressive Democrat.
I honestly don't understand why so many are overtly hostile towards AOC and other progressive Democrats in general. AOC has been out there on national tours, building the Democratic base and filling every venue, everywhere they go.

AOC has nothing to do with the lose. It has everything to do with a deep red district that Republicans paid millions of dollars to win in a R+22 district that shouldn't have even required a real campaign. Ms. Behn did an amazing job and is in a good position to actually win the seat in November.
Bonus: every Republican, even those in R +10 or R +15 districts, just got a reality check that their seats are no longer safe. It was worth it. It will now force then to spend money they wouldn't have otherwise spent and force through RNC to pick and choose what seats they will spend money and effort to hold onto to given the change in mood of the electorate. They will turtle and they makes them vulnerable.

 

Gimpyknee

(1,025 posts)
24. I wish I had your optimism.
Wed Dec 3, 2025, 11:36 PM
Dec 3

I have no hostility for AOC, in fact I have much respect for her. However, you must face facts. It’s a hell of a lot harder for a progressive candidate to win in a southern state. Ms Behn lost by nine percentage points. I’ll argue that a more moderate democratic candidate would have had a closer contest.

Buzz cook

(2,834 posts)
23. The Democratic party has a history
Wed Dec 3, 2025, 08:25 PM
Dec 3

Of running conservative Democrats or even not contesting deep red district.

1st it goes without saying, we should contest every race.
2nd in those districts we should run the bluest possible candidate we can find.
3rd sadly Aftyn Behn did not win, but look at all the people she motivated, look at the volunteers that knocked on 70,000 doors. Many if not most of those people are not going to disappear into the wood work.
That is what hope and change looks like.

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