Aftyn Behn — the Democrat running for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District — is once again under fire after newly surfaced audio revealed she had recurring dreams in which she screamed, “I don’t want children. I want power!”
The clip, posted online Monday, captures Behn discussing therapy sessions and dreams she said connect back to advice her mother gave her to avoid having children so she could prioritize her career. It is unclear when the recording was made.
“My therapist always asks me to transcribe my dreams… the recurring dream I’ve had is standing up in a cafeteria full of women… and saying, ‘I don’t want children. I want power!’ And just screaming it at the top of my lungs,” Behn said.
She continued by blaming her upbringing for her mindset: “For someone who grew up with my mother telling me, never have kids because you’ll have to give up a lot… you’ll have to sacrifice professionally.”
Behn then pivoted into feminist criticism of traditional family roles, claiming politics has not “met the challenge of working moms” and that women who marry and raise families operate within “deeply patriarchal structures.”
“In the South,” she added, “it’s incredibly difficult to shake those [patriarchal structures]… the metrics of success is how many kids you have, the bigger the square footage of your house, and where your kids go to school.”
🚨 Democrat nominee for the upcoming TN07 special election Aftyn Behn condemns women who get married and start families– saying it's the product of "deeply patriarchal structures":
"My therapist always asks me to transcribe my dreams and the recurring dream I've had is standing… pic.twitter.com/LTsYj0im7Q
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) November 24, 2025
The remarks are particularly striking in Tennessee — a culturally conservative state where faith, family, and traditional values remain core to voters.
A Pattern of Controversial Statements
This is not Behn’s first self-inflicted campaign problem.
Just last week, another resurfaced audio clip showed Behn trashing Nashville — the very city she seeks to represent in Congress.
“I hate the city, I hate the bachelorettes, I hate the pedal taverns, I hate country music, I hate all of the things that make Nashville apparently an ‘it’ city… But I hate it,” she said.
Behn later attempted to walk it back, claiming she was merely venting frustration about tourism.
But the string of clips paints a picture of a candidate deeply out of step with her would-be constituents — not only scorning the city itself, but dismissing family life, motherhood, and traditional values that Tennesseans hold dear.
High Stakes for Democrats
Behn is running in a special election for the seat formerly held by Republican Rep. Mark Green. Her opponent is Republican Matt Van Epps. The election is set for early next week.
For Democrats hoping to flip even a single seat in Tennessee — an already uphill battle — Behn’s comments could prove politically devastating.
At a time when voters want leaders focused on restoring stability, supporting families, and defending American values, Behn’s declaration — “I don’t want children. I want power!” — may be the most revealing insight yet into her priorities.
And it’s not one Tennessee voters are likely to embrace.
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