If you’re like me, the disturbing spectacle in Tennessee last month still eats at you.
First, the horrific gun violence perpetrated against innocent young people. Then the spirited and inspiring response, led by young people. Then the disturbing response by Tennessee legislators, expelling two Black legislators who had sided with those protesters to speak out for gun safety measures.
As I wrote a few weeks ago, one of the primary reasons Tennessee legislators act the way they do—and get away with it—is that about half of them sit in power without even having faced an election last year. That’s right, their elections weren’t even contested! And that level of unaccountability leads to precisely the type of behavior we saw last month: extremism and a disregard for the public good.
It’s a crisis playing out all over America, but Tennessee provided a fitting case study of how ugly it all is up close.
But…there are also things we can do—that we must do—to fight back. It starts with encouraging folks to step up and run everywhere, and supporting them when they do. In fact, long term, the only way we’ll change this trajectory in all these states is when extremists feel accountable for their actions. And they will never feel an ounce of accountability until they at least face opponents everywhere, every year.
As my Blue Ohio friends know, there’s a model that exists to do just that, and we’re growing it in Ohio. And now folks want to try to build the same model in Tennessee.
Are you interested in helping? In joining this new effort to bring needed accountability to another broken statehouse?
If so, join us this Wednesday, May 17 at 7:30 pm. for a Zoom call.
With a number of special guests, we’ll talk about why it matters so much to run everywhere, and what it will take to get Blue Tennessee started successfully.
To join us Wednesday, sign up here.
A key to success in efforts like these (which we accomplished with Blue Ohio ) is to generate enough seed support that it becomes self-sustaining. If you’re excited enough about taking on these Tennessee extremists, you can pledge your support here.
Either way, hope to see you Wednesday.
David