The Tennessee Democrat Hoping to Prove the Blue Wave Is Real

A Democratic win in Tennessee's 7th Congressional District would have been unthinkable just weeks ago. But with polls tightening and national figures from both parties flooding the zone, Tuesday's special election has become a high-stakes test of whether the so-called "blue wave" is gaining strength heading into the 2026 midterm cycle.

At the center of the race is Aftyn Behn, a progressive state lawmaker and activist from Nashville, who's attempting to flip a ruby-red district Donald Trump carried by 22 points only a year ago.

"We're the underdog, but I love an underdog story," Behn told Newsweek in an exclusive interview on Monday. "This race is competitive because the Washington Republicans have put forth an economic agenda that hasn't delivered and voters are looking for a change."