  We used Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) data to identify 29
candidate active galactic nuclei (AGNs) through their optical variability. The
high-cadence, high-precision TESS light curves present a unique opportunity for
the identification of AGNs, including those not selected through other methods.
Of the candidates, we found that 18 have either previously been identified as
AGNs in the literature or could have been selected based on emission-line
diagnostics, mid-IR colors, or X-ray luminosity. AGNs in low-mass galaxies
offer a window into supermassive black hole (SMBH) and galaxy co-evolution and
8 of the 29 candidates have estimated black hole masses $\mathrm{\lesssim
10^{6} M_{\odot}}$. The low-mass galaxies NGC 4395 and NGC 4449 are two of our
five "high-confidence" candidates. By applying our methodology to the entire
TESS main and extended mission datasets, we expect to identify $\sim$45 more
AGN candidates, of which $\sim$26 will be new and $\sim$8 will be in low-mass
galaxies.
