Tennessee state Rep. Aftyn Behn (D) may have lost her race in Congress, but the progressive juggernaut has nevertheless been hailed as a historymaker for even coming close to victory.A staunch supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, Behn lost a special election on Tuesday to Republican opponent Matt Van Epps in the states 7th district. But with 95 percent of the vote counted, Behn only trailed Van Epps by nine points. In a district that went for Trump by 22 points in the 2024 election, this is no small feat. Related Dem. LGBTQ+ rights champion giving anti-trans Republican a run for his money in deep red district This was a district that Trump won handily, and he and his billionaire friends had to spend millions of dollars to bolster their candidate of choice, Behn reportedly told CNN as ballots were being counted. The result of Republican gerrymandering, the district encompasses parts of Nashville and nearby rural counties andwas essentially designedto always go red.While Behn ran a campaign focused on affordability, Republicans tried to center her support for LGBTQ+ rights as a reason not to vote for her. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today In aTruth Social poston November 30, the president claimed Behn wants Transgender for everybody and men in womens sports. Republicans also glommed onto a (factual) 2020 comment she made about how both men and women can give birth. Among many other right-wing accounts, the GOPposted the clip on Xand called her radical, unhinged, and out of touch.Behn spoke withNewsweekon Monday in the hours before Election Day to respond to the presidents tirade against her on Truth Social. Behn: This isn't the end of our story. It's not even close, because what we have built here in this district, this grassroots movement, is part of something bigger that is happening across the south and is happening across this country. Because we are tired of people outside of pic.twitter.com/XuC2tjcgli Acyn (@Acyn) December 3, 2025She said he is saying all these things because he doesnt have a plan to address the rising cost of health care and to ensure that working Tennesseans are able to afford health care, groceries and utilities.Van Epps has championed a strong right-wing platform, including strong opposition to trans rights, oras he put iton his website, the woke lefts push for gender surgeries and mutilation on minors. He also said he would fight to ban trans women (whom he referred to as biological men) from competing in womens sports.Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin called Behns overperformance in the race historic and a flashing warning sign for Republicans heading into the midterms.A spokesperson for the liberal House Majority PAC said the race makes it clear that No House Republicans reelection should be considered safe next November.One House Republican, who elected to remain anonymous, admitted to Politico that the race is a sign that 2026 is going to be a b*tch of an election cycle. According to the publication, experts believe Behns singular focus on affordability and her refusal to take her opponents bait on culture war issues is what spoke to so many. Democrats are hoping to replicate her strategy across the country during the midterm elections. Behn: I called the congressman elect, Matt van Epps, and I had one question for him: What will define what happens next? Do not let the affordable care act subsidies expire. Do not raise healthcare costs for working families in Tennessee pic.twitter.com/MCgu2kaotM Acyn (@Acyn) December 3, 2025Ahead of election day on Tuesday, it was clear that powerful Republicans were sweating over Behns unprecedented popularity in the area. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) attended a rally for Van Epps, where, according to theNew York Times,he declared, I thought Tennessee was deep red as he questioned how Behn who he called a dangerous far leftist had gained so much steam.Behn has long been known in the state for her progressive ideals and her grassroots rise to victory in state politics. In 2023, local reporter Kathryn Rickmeyer called Behn the AOC of Tennessee. Her longtime partner also has a trans son, and she called the Supreme Court decision upholding her states gender-affirming care ban a gut punch to transgender youth and their families.In Tennessee, this ruling adds fuel to the fire of the GOPs war on trans youth, she wrote. The exhaustive list of anti-trans legislation and resolutions passed by the Tennessee General Assembly isnt about protecting kids its about using fear to distract us from real issues like the fact that our budget is busted, our roads are falling apart, and our grocery prices are the highest in the country.In her concession speech, Behn assured supporters this was not the end of her story and that the energy around her campaign proves the South is not destined to be red forever. The South is not silent because the South has something to say! she yelled over cheering supporters. We may not have won tonight, but we changed the story of whats possible here, and were not done. Not by a long shot.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.