Former Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday stopped short of endorsing State Representative Aftyn Behn (D-Nashville) during a surprise campaign event for the Democrat who seeks to flip Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District on the December 2 special election called following the mid-term retirement of former U.S. Representative Mark Green.
Originally scheduled to appear in Nashville as part of the nationwide tour for her book, 107 Days, a memoir detailing her brief time as the Democrats’ nominee for president, The New York Times was first to report that Harris would appear with Behn.
Though the newspaper confirmed Harris’ anticipated appearance through a source familiar with the plans, Behn’s campaign website did not list an event scheduled for Tuesday, and the two Democratic politicians never actually appeared together, according to Nashville Banner.
Shortly before Harris arrived, the outlet reported that Behn informed the audience she had to leave in order to attend another event, meaning she did not share a stage with the former vice president.
Without Behn on the stage, The Banner reported that Harris stopped short of endorsing the candidate and instead urged Democrats to turn out to vote.
“There are some powerful forces that are trying to suggest that folks are alone and without power, powerful forces that are trying to divide us and to tell folks that they don’t matter and their needs don’t matter,” Harris said, according to the outlet. “Well, we need to let them hear our voice and let them know that they’re going to have to be responsive. This is a moment where we reclaim this, our country.”
While Harris also attended a campaign rally for Proposition 50, the successful effort by California Governor Gavin Newsom aimed at redrawing the state’s congressional districts to exclude Republicans, the appearance with Behn will mark Harris’ first event for a candidate since she lost all seven battleground states and the popular vote during the 2024 presidential election.
The visit by Harris comes shortly after Democratic National Committee (DNC) chairman Ken Martin joined Behn for a canvassing event in the district. Martin said during the event that the DNC fully supported Behn in the election.
Behn’s campaign also recently benefited from U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett’s (D-TX-30) virtual attendance at Behn’s event.
The interest in Behn’s campaign from Democrats on the national stage comes after Democratic voters performed strongly during the October primary, casting only about 5,000 fewer ballots than Republicans, despite Green winning in a 20-point landslide just last year.
Behn, who has been labeled the “AOC of Tennessee” by local Democrats, has suggested the race could rewrite the “Democratic playbook” for winning southern states.
Republicans nominated U.S. Army veteran and former Tennessee state official Matt Van Epps, who won his primary by comfortable margins. More than $1.1 million in advertising has been reserved to support Van Epps’ campaign, compared to less than $300,000 for Behn’s.
Van Epps was endorsed by President Donald Trump and Governor Bill Lee before winning the Republican primary.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Kamala Harris” by Allie Phillips.
Too bad. Kamala’s endorsement would have sealed the deal for Van Epp.
being a leader and craving attention are two different qualities. she has the batter.