Dear Tennessee,
Is it over yet?
I know. I feel your pain. I live here too.
I was here when the Republicans won their supermajority, and I’ve watched over the last few years as Democrats have taken the beat down one election after another. I took that beatdown myself in 2016.
I understand how fatiguing this feels. I understand how defeating this feels.
But rolling over is not the answer.
I’ve heard the stories about how weary you are. I’ve heard all about the phone banking you did, the candidate you were sure was going to win, the devastation at the loss.
Not yet recovered from all of that work, here the candidates come again; asking for money, asking for volunteers, asking about yard signs, asking for your support and endorsement.
The thing is, this is about the long game. This is about standing and fighting when you’ve been knocked down, over and over, and over and over.
It’s about phone banking again, and donating again, and volunteering again, and it might even be about losing, AGAIN.
I know you’ve done it before, and I know you’re tired of doing it. But that is not the criteria we use when we are determining what is right and what is wrong. In fact, most of the time, doing the right thing is NOT the easy thing.
Spring is coming.
We have learned a horrible lesson over the last couple of years that we should already have known. Democracy requires defending.
Those defenders are you, and me, and every person in our country who believes it’s worth fighting for. And it starts right here in our little district, in these local elections.
Rise up, Tennesseans. Make your presence known. Our opponents will, at the very least have to step over our beaten, battered bodies on their way in the door.
Our opponents will have heard our voice, YOUR voice, and will know that we are alive and kicking in Tennessee. Be proud of who you are and what you believe.
Speak out, Tennesseans. In the history of the world, no battle has ever been won against an oppressor with silence. Get loud. Shout it from the rooftops. Folks, we have facts, data, and evidence on our side. Our ideas ARE better - they are more inclusive, more kind, more American, more RIGHT.
Push back, Tennesseans. I know you’re tired. I know what the math looks like. I know the machine we are up against. Believe me, I know. But don’t just hand this to them. We need you, we all need each other. There is one way to get political power, and that is to win it.
March 13, District 14 special election.
If every person in District 14 would rise up, speak out, and push back, we could change the landscape in our beautiful state.
Imagine a future in Tennessee where people have the health care they need, where the living wage is increased, where we respect our teachers with salary and benefits and not just empty promises and pretty words.
Imagine a Tennessee where growth and development must be carefully managed because so many new businesses want to come to this beautiful state, because of its diversity, inclusiveness, infrastructure, schools, hospitals, and embrace of progress.
You are the key to this future. Rise up. Speak out. Push back.
I’m Gayle Jordan and I’m running for State Senate in TN’s 14th district.
Tennessee 2018 - Gayle Jordan
