Why We Need to Send an Organizer to Congress
This isn’t a one-off race. It’s the opening move in a long-term strategy to take back Tennessee. Organizers don't just mobilize for the moment; we're committed to the long haul.
I wanted the title for this Substack to be: “If I had a nickel for every man that has told me I should drop out of this race”, but alas, I woke up and decided not to choose violence today. (Some of you are safe…for now…😃)
INSTEAD, I will focus on the task at hand, which is convincing you, my readers, of the importance of sending an organizer to Congress at this moment in American and Tennessee political history.
Let’s start with the basics. What is an organizer?
Most people remember Obama, the HOPE 2008 campaign, and recall that Obama cut his teeth in Chicago's South Side during the 1980s, focusing on improving local neighborhoods affected by steel mill closures.
Embarrassingly, I was introduced formally to “community organizing” late in life, while attending graduate school at the University of Texas at Austin. Enrolling in the policy program, one of our core curriculum classes was “Community Organizing.” During one of my late-night library deep dives, I stumbled upon Saul Alinsky’s “Rules for Radicals,” in which Alinsky describes the “Haves” and the “Have-Nots”—and how the tension between the two creates conditions for transformative change. The goal of an organizer is to reimagine what’s possible and leverage those tensions to organize for a more just world.
Now before I jump in, it will not surprise any of you that in 2017, I infiltrated an Americans for Prosperity event in Williamson County as they advertised they would be watching “A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing,” a “documentary” about Saul Alinsky created by the Catholic Church ecosystem in an effort to discredit social justice movements. They even provided a handout asking questions about what could be learned from Alinsky and how to apply it to our personal organizing efforts to build a conservative movement. Wild times.
Alinsky lists his 13 rules for every organizer to follow, one of which is: The major premise for tactics is the development of operations that will maintain a constant pressure upon the opposition. Translated, he’s saying that the key to organizing is maintaining steady pressure on those in power so they can’t ignore you or become complacent.
Embracing this core tenet with open arms, the Republican Party achieved this starting from the ground up—organizing school boards, city councils, and state legislatures to create a relentless pipeline of pressure, policy, and power that reshaped the country over decades. A deliberate long-term strategy, rooted in the Powell Memo of 1971, which called on conservatives to build lasting influence in media, the courts, business, and academia. Carrying that memo as their righteous call to action, they spent the next 50 years executing it with discipline.
So, what is our strategy to build for the next 50 years while the Republican party eats their own?
This is where I come in.
Organizers are always plotting—quietly, relentlessly. We’re the ones keeping pressure on the powerful, running a hundred campaigns in our heads, thinking through every angle to block what’s harming our people, broaden the base, and build the world we deserve.
For the past decade, I’ve been at the heart of a long-term political project to take back Tennessee, shoulder to shoulder with fellow organizers, activists, movement lawyers, community groups, and mentors who took the time to teach me what real power-building looks like. And we’ve had major wins: we forced the retirement of two Senators and four Congressmen, our former Speaker of the House is awaiting sentencing for federal corruption charges, and we won a lawsuit in the conservative Sixth Circuit of Appeals.
When you donate to this campaign, you're investing in the next generation of leaders who are eager to carry the torch forward. When you vote for me, you’re not just voting for a candidate—you’re voting for the strategy that in 50 years, the Republican party will look up and say, “Oh sh*t.” A candidate who not only knows how to win in hostile territory and during the Trump era, but also someone who can organize the coalition necessary to keep it. A candidate who will leverage the congressional seat to out-organize our unhinged federal delegation and work with our state and local allies to redefine Tennessee politics. A candidate who will take the megaphone and message us through the next few years of economic precarity, while creating onramps for Tennesseans waking up to the fact that they’ve been scammed.
This moment requires someone who knows how to organize power, not just hold office. We need someone who’s planning for the next 50 years, not just for the next election. Hopefully, I’ve convinced you why we need to send an organizer to Congress. The old playbook got us here. It’s time to write a new one… together.
Aftyn
P.S. The far-right Tennessee Star and Republican candidate Lee Reeves recently said we’re the Democratic frontrunner in the race, which is why I’ve been living rent-free in their heads. Donate today to help us keep them SCARED.
UPDATES
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Civilian Civic Corps
A big thank you to all of the supporters of our summer paid internship, the Civilian Civic Corps. Recently, they talked to voters in East Nashville about the upcoming Sixth Congressional District town hall (listed below) and why it’s important to participate in civic events like this. (Pictured below are three of our CCC members, including Program Lead Wyatt Bassow, at the Lipstick Lounge.)
CALL TO ACTION
Care about solving Nashville’s housing crisis?
Nashville is facing a housing crisis, and we have an opportunity to increase housing density through a new rezoning and urban design plan proposed by Councilmember Rollin Horton. This plan would enable more housing options in the Nations neighborhood, improve walkability, and provide stronger protections for trees and stormwater, while establishing guardrails for future development. It’s a smart step toward building a Nashville that works for all of us. The final Metro Council vote is August 19 —please e-mail your Council Rep to say you support CM Horton’s zoning plan.
Musk Tunnel Update
A big thank you for showing up and showing out! A special shout-out to Senator Charlane Oliver for organizing the press conference last week and for maintaining the drumbeat of accountability. Here’s an update on where things stand:
The state approved a free 22-month lease for a staging area: a 0.8-acre parking lot on Rosa L. Parks Blvd, near the Capitol, starting August 1, 2025 and running through March 31, 2027
Work, including fencing, geotechnical exploration, and hiring events, had already begun around July 18–31, under a temporary license, before the lease was formally approved
In the next few weeks, the Airport Authority and the State will both host meetings regarding the implementation of the plan.
The Equity Alliance and Stand Up Nashville are organizing the resistance against this project. To get involved in their efforts, please text Tunnel to 91750 for more information.
EVENTS
TN6 Congressional Townhall
Join East Nashtivists, the Tennessee National Women’s Political Caucus, and Indivisible Sumner County for an August Recess Townhall on August 20th from 6-7:30 PM.
TomatoFest 🍅🍅🍅
Join Rosebank Elementary for their Parade Prep TOMORROW Friday, August 8th on the Rosebank Playground to make signs for the Tomato Art Fest parade on Saturday. You can find the full TomatoFest schedule by clicking here.
CAMPAIGN
Congressional Race
We’re having a BLAST on the campaign trail, meeting so many of you and reimagining what’s possible in Tennessee and this country. I’ve also loved seeing familiar faces like Gael and Kristina below, who were members of the original TN7 Indivisible group in 2017. See below for ways to plug into the campaign!
If you want to host a fundraiser, please contact Kate Briefs at team@aftynbehn.com
If you want to volunteer, we’re currently offering oppIf ortunities for:
Phonebanking (virtual and in-person)
Taking pictures at events
Making deliveries
Showing me around your county (if you live in CD7)
If you want a yard sign, you can purchase one here.
For My HD51 Constituents
Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the cheerleading, encouragement, and support in this race! I was having drinks with a constituent at Lockeland Table the other night when I turned around and heard, “So when do we start knocking doors?!” I’ve been overwhelmed—in the best way—by the love and enthusiasm. Truly, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Even though I’m running for Congress, I’m still your State Representative. I’ve reserved Tuesdays for in-office meetings and Wednesdays for in-district visits, and I’d love to meet with you.
Need a resolution for a wedding, retirement, or bar mitzvah? Don’t hesitate to reach out!
Here’s how to get in touch:
If you want to schedule an in-person meeting or have a legislative question, please contact Abby Plemmons at (615) 741-3229 or abigail.plemmons@capitol.tn.gov.
If you live in House District 51 and want to talk about the congressional race, please email hd51@aftynbehn.com or call (629) 276-4000—a team member will respond within 24 hours.
Is there a way to add Paypal to your donation options? Thanks!