State and Local Politics Blog

Long neglected by the national parties and misunderstood as an “unwinnable red state,” Tennessee now finds itself as an important battleground for the 2018 elections, including the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by the retirement of Senator Bob Corker. Crucial to winning in Tennessee will be the ability of progressives to rebuild a grassroots infrastructure and get out the vote effort in Shelby County.  If we succeed, progressives will be able to regain the Governorship and a U.S. Senate seat.  However, of equal importance, we will have positioned ourselves to reverse some of the nation’s worst gerrymandering and begin to return the Democratic party to parity in state politics for the coming decade. 

Danielle moved to Memphis as a child when her father took a position at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. His example instilled in her a greater sense of community service. Danielle is a product of Memphis City Schools having graduated from Craigmont High School, and is a proud graduate of the University of Memphis (Go Tigers Go!).

This year Shelby County has four elections with three different Election Days in May, August, and November. There are important elections and issues on each one of these ballots. We have an amazing group of progressive candidates this cycle, and it is important that voters turn out for each election to flip districts in Shelby County!

The parent who helps their child’s teacher with homework and activities. The individual who helps feed the homeless on Thanksgiving. The person who helps organize a neighborhood effort to address crime or blight or to promote a cause. They are all volunteers.

As a woman, a business owner, and a nurse - Katrina Robinson is no stranger to perseverance. In her greatest pursuits she has diligently concentrated her work to serving as a community advocate and problem solver.Katrina came to state-wide attention as an entrepreneur in 2015, when she successfully wrote her own grant proposal to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with no prior formal training or education in grant writing. She secured a $1.6 million federal grant, and began The Healthcare Institute Inc.

Progressive Challenger, Torrey Harris, is a proud community leader and advocate for all Human Rights and Equal Opportunity here in Memphis, Tennessee. Torrey came to Memphis in 2011 by way of corporate relocation and has made the obvious decision to 'Choose 901', literally, making Memphis his home ever since. Torrey believes that everyone should be given the same chances and opportunities he was presented with.

When the publication of "Fire and Fury" was announced, it was an instant bestseller. Despite cease and desist orders, Henry Holt & Co., defied the threat and moved up the publication date to January 5th instead of waiting to publish on the originally planned January 9th date. A record 1.7 million copies have been sold. 

In 2014, Lee Harris was elected to the State Senate, becoming the youngest senator in the state of Tennessee. Other Democratic senators selected him as Senate Minority Leader, making him the first African American leader of the state senate in Tennessee history.