Below is a message from Gloria Johnson, who just announced her candidacy for U.S. Senate in Tennessee. I hope you’ll take a moment to read her message and if you can, consider supporting her today. --Katie Porter
I’m in this race because Tennesseans deserve better.
That was made crystal clear earlier this year, in the wake of the horrific Nashville school shooting. Thousands of Tennesseans descended on the state Capitol to demand action on gun violence prevention, but the GOP majority refused to give them a voice.
So two of my colleagues and I stood up to join their historic protest.
I knew it was against the rules. I knew it would piss the GOP leadership off. But I couldn’t let the Covenant families, young people, and parents from across the state stand alone.
The Republican majority took quick action, but not on gun violence. Both my colleagues, Representatives Justin J. Pearson and Justin Jones, were expelled. I was spared by a single vote. Then the GOP majority passed a new law to increase access to guns.
MAGA Republicans in Nashville and Washington don’t give a damn about us. They don’t give a damn about using power to save lives or help the people who elected them into office. They only care about their big campaign donors and special interest lobbyists.
But one thing has changed – the people are on our side, and they are standing up to demand action and make the change we need. There’s a movement afoot in Tennessee.
I’m standing tall to take on Senator Marsha Blackburn now because Tennessee deserves better. Period.
Marsha has failed us in her five years in office. She’s voted against everything from pandemic relief to ensuring equal pay for women. She’s supported tax breaks for corporations while opposing laws to keep life-saving drug prices down. She’s a danger to reproductive rights, cruel to LGBTQ+ folks, and she refuses to fight for our right to vote.
She’s also taken over a million dollars from the NRA while refusing to take action on the most basic, commonsense legislation to protect our children from the threat of gun violence. We have a senator who stands with bullies, and I have a reputation for standing up to bullies.
Marsha Blackburn has shown us who she works for, and it’s not us. She’s had five years and nothing is getting done. Tennesseans deserve someone who will stand up to corrupt special interests and fight for lower costs so that every family can build a good life. It’s time we do something about it.
With you,
Gloria
