Appreciation thread for Aftyn Behn

[angrychair]

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.

[ZDU]

1. I still believe and support her!

[Ars Longa]

2. 11 months I hope to see her WIN!!

[SheltieLover]

3. 11 mos, Aftyn!

[MustLoveBeagles]

4. She did very well in spite of not winning

[IzzaNuDay]

5. I'll send some leopards to the district

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

[evolves]

6. SO many faces

that deserve to be eaten….

[sarchasm]

7. A true fighter. I hope we see more of her.

Aftyn ...

[2 Meow Momma]

8. She's a rising star! nt

[RazorbackExpat]

9. Here's wishing for better luck next year

[Emile]

10. She impressed me.

[Danascot]

11. I was so looking forward to what she would do in congress

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

[KPN]

12. Yes. Hang in there Aftyn. You'll get another shot at it down the road, either for that seat or another in Tennessee.

[liberalla]

13. Yes! Thank you!

She is very impressive!

[70sEraVet]

14. This was a gerrymandered District created to ensure that Nashville....

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]

15. She is a spitfire with a big future

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. I had made a pledge not to donate any more money to non Texas candidates. Never seems to make a difference

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!!!

[The Roux Comes First]

17. An Extremely Impressive Candidate, Unafraid to Take on a Huge Challenge!

Kudos!!

[TBF]

18. I wish we could clone her - we need a zillion of her in Texas

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

[MakeThemCry]

19. This is how it's done

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

This is the way forward.

[angrychair]

22. Just not true

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]

24. I wish I had your optimism.

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.

[Exp]

21. Though she lost, my $25 donaton was well worth it! nt

[Buzz cook]

23. The Democratic party has a history

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.