03/21/2025
Indivisible Knoxville, Knox Dems Host
Empty Chair Town Hall
Congressman Tim Burchett has refused an invitation to a community town hall in Knox County
KNOXVILLE, Tennessee (Mar. 21, 2025)—Indivisible Knoxville, the Knox County Democratic Party, nonpartisan organizations and the community have come together to host a town hall for republicans, independents, and democrats of East Tennessee to share their stories and concerns about the reckless policy decisions supported by Congressman Tim Burchett. The event is Friday, March 21st at 6 p.m. at the Deane Hill Recreation Center (7400 Deane Hill Dr NW, Knoxville, TN 37919).
Congressman Burchett, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, and Sen. Bill Hagerty all refused or refused to answer this invitation to speak to their constituents here in East Tennessee.
“Indivisible Knoxville is excited to offer this chance for all voters to hold our elected officials accountable,” said Marie Illingworth, Indivisible Knoxville Lead Organizer. “They work for us, not unelected billionaires, and they need to hear our stories, from both sides of the aisle. We are all in this together to hold our elected officials accountable to we the people, indivisible.”
Rep. Burchett has been a cheerleader for Elon Musk and Trump’s cabinet of billionaires as they’ve made cuts to programs and agencies that serve East Tennesseans. Rep. Burchett was a decisive vote to advance the Trump administration budget, which will require cuts to Medicaid and SNAP as currently laid out. As East Tennessee farmers were hit by cuts to USAID, Rep. Burchett did not step up for his constituents. As veterans are being hit by staffing cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Rep. Burchett has not stepped up for his constituents. As our seniors are being put under strain from changes and cuts to the Social Security Administration, Rep. Burchett has not stepped up for his constituents.
“Congressman Burchett will not stand up against his pals in Washington D.C.,” said Knox Dems Chair Stuart Hohl. “One phone call from the President is all it took for Tim Burchett to sell us out. He doesn’t care if D.C. politics causes you to lose your job, the food off your table, your retirement, or your dignity. While Burchett hides from his constituents - republicans, independents, and democrats all in one room - the people of his district will be talking about the impact that policies and cuts are already having on the East Tennessee way of life.”
03/12/2025
Knox Dems 2025 Refresh:
Biennial County Reorganization Convention
KNOXVILLE, Tennessee (Mar. 12, 2025)—Every two years, the Knox County Democratic Party gets a refresh with the Biennial County Reorganization Convention. It’s a great time for you to get more involved in your local party, but it can also feel a bit daunting for those of you who are new - and even those who have been around a while. We’ll walk you through the process in this email.
What is the Biennial County Reorganization Convention?
This reorganization convention is the process through which the county party elects its officers and its Board of Governors. In order to vote, you have to be selected by your precinct as a delegate (more information below). The officers of the party are the Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Board of Governors is made up of two District Representatives from each of the 9 districts.
Who can be a delegate? Our bylaws define eligibility as:
All members of the County Party who are registered voters in the county and who attest they are bona fide Democrats by execution of pledges or affirmations to that effect are eligible to be Voting Delegates at the Reorganization Convention and to be candidates for the Board of Governors and to vote. No proxy voting, secret ballots, voting by unit rule, or absentee voting is allowed.
If you’re a registered voter, and can affirm you are a Democrat, then you can go through our vetting process for delegate selection. Check your registration information here.
Step 1: Attend Your District’s March Meeting
District 1:
Tuesday, March 25th - 6PM
Public Works Building - 3131 Morris Ave. Knoxville, TN 37909
District 2:
Thursday, March 27th - 6PM
Knox Dems HQ - 311 Morgan St. Knoxville, TN 37917
District 3:
Tuesday, March 18th - 6PM
Hey Bear Cafe (covered outdoor area) - 9036 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN 37923
District 4:
Tuesday, March 25th - 6PM
Bearden Branch Library - 100 Golf Club Rd, Knoxville, TN 37919
District 5:
Thursday, March 27th - 6:30PM
2241 Breakwater Dr. Knoxville, TN 37922
District 6:
Saturday, March 29th - 10AM
Karns Branch Library - 7516 Oak Ridge Hwy, Knoxville, TN 37931
District 7:
Thursday, March 20th - 6PM
Powell Branch Library - 330 W Emory Rd, Powell, TN 37849
District 8:
Thursday, March 20th - 6:30PM
Email district8@knoxvilledemocrats.org for address
District 9:
Monday, March 17th - 6PM
The Pride Center - 4028 Chapman Hwy, Knoxville, TN 37920 (Sam Duff Park Entrance)
Step 2: Elect Precinct Chairs and Select Delegates
The district meetings will accomplish two things:
Elect your Precinct Chairs. Each District is made up of precincts, and each precinct has a chair position. The Precinct Chair position is intended to support the District Reps in organizing the district, and organizing their more local area.
Select your delegates for your precinct for the Convention:
Each precinct has a set amount of delegates, determined by our bylaws.
If the precinct has more people interested in being a delegate than their precinct allotment then alternates may be selected. Alternates attend the Convention to take the space of a delegate who does not show up to the convention.
If a person is unable to attend the district meeting, they may submit a request by writing to the District Representatives of their district at least 24 hours before the district meeting. They must still be chosen as a delegate by their precinct.
Step 3: Attend the Biennial County Reorganization Convention
On Saturday, April 5th, delegates will meet at the Bearden Middle School cafeteria. Doors open for the Convention at 10AM and will close at 11AM. Anyone not inside by 11AM will not be able to participate.
Districts will follow the process in our bylaws to elect their District Representatives, and nominations and votes will be held for the party officers. Elected Representatives and Officers will take their oaths, and the convention will adjourn.
02/25/2025
Knox County Democratic Party Condemns Burchett
Budget Vote and Calls for Town Hall
KNOXVILLE, Tennessee (Feb. 25, 2025)--The Knox County Democratic Party condemns U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett for his vote in favor of the destructive Republican budget that will hurt East Tennesseans of all backgrounds.
The U.S. House of Representatives voted for a budget that experts say will require extensive cuts to programs like Medicaid and SNAP. Representative Tim Burchett was a late flip to a "yes" vote on a budget that will add trillions in debt, despite recently saying he does not support adding to the national debt. The Republican budget will give $4.5 trillion in tax cuts to billionaires while seniors, children and families will lose critical access to health care and food programs.
“Tim Burchett‘s vote will hurt East Tennessee,” said Knox Dems Chair Stuart Hohl. “Shame on him for a vote that will inevitably cut medical care and take food off children's plates. Burchett owes his community a town hall where he explains his vote, but he’d rather spend time dining with celebrities than listening to his constituents.”
Representative Burchett has also endorsed Elon Musk’s activities with DOGE, which threatens hundreds of millions of cuts to East Tennessee institutions like the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Lab.
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Media Contact: Stuart Hohl: chair@knoxvilledemocrats.org
1/09/25
Knox Dems Applaud Knox County School Board’s Denial of School Voucher Scam in Bipartisan Vote
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
KNOXVILLE, Tennessee (Jan. 9, 2025)--The Knox County Democratic Party applauds the Knox County School Board for its bipartisan vote tonight against Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s voucher scam.
Knox County Democrats Katherine Bike, Patricia Fontenot-Ridley, Anne Templeton and the Rev. John Butler along with Republican Lauren Morgan voted to keep the local school board’s focus on Knox County public schools in a vote that stopped Republican member Steve Triplett’s attempts to add school vouchers as a 2025 legislative priority for the school system.
“Bill Lee’s voucher program takes your tax dollars out of your public schools and lines the pockets of his donors,” said Knox County Democratic Party Chair Stuart Hohl. “We’re thankful that the Knox County School Board has prioritized our public schools and the teachers, staff and students the School Board serves.”
Tennessee Rep. Gloria Johnson noted in a post on X Thursday that if the state passes Lee’s voucher scam, Knox County public schools could lose at least $52.2 million–the equivalent of 944 annual teacher salaries or the cost to tutor 34,838 students.
The cost of Gov. Bill Lee's universal voucher program has been estimated to be more than $700 million, and has drawn criticism for its skyrocketing costs and lax regulation by the state.
Democrats and Republicans agree that school vouchers are a bad fit for Tennessee. Bill Lee’s inability to pass his voucher program despite having a super majority in the General Assembly shows how unpopular the legislation has been. Not only do many Republicans disagree that public funds should be used for private schools, they are concerned that government control could follow if a private (church-affiliated) school accepts public funds.
During discussion of the proposal at the Thursday meeting, Templeton said, “This conversation is about looking past our partisan differences when it comes to communicating with our state legislators …This should be a document of unity on the issues that we all stand behind.”
Media Contact: Stuart Hohl: chair@knoxcountydemocrats.org
Knox Dems is the Knox County, Tennessee, Democratic Party. Knox County has shifted 14 points toward Democrats over the past decade, and since 2014, local Dems have made gains over the local GOP by flipping seats in nearly every election cycle since.
Knox County Democrats Steer Blue Wave West
Knox County Democrats Steer Blue Wave West
Results from Thursday’s Knox County general and state primary election show Democrats making significant gains in key West Knoxville districts.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Knox County Democrats Steer Blue Wave West
Voters reject vouchers, far-right radicalism in key School Board, Tennessee House races
KNOXVILLE, Tennessee (August 2, 2024) --Results from Thursday’s Knox County general and state primary election show Democrats making significant gains in key West Knoxville districts.
Democrat Patricia Fontenot-Ridley won her bid for School Board by five points in District 3 against a former chapter president of far-right group, Moms for Liberty, showing voters’ support of public education and rebuke of anti-government, anti-woke groups. In 2022, Stuart Hohl, who is now chair of the Knox County Democratic Party, lost his bid for County Commission in District 3 by 87 votes.
Two years later, Fontenot-Ridley won every precinct, and the election with 53 percent of the vote.
“The election results prove what we’ve been saying all along: Knox County will continue to flip blue, headed west down Interstate 40,” Hohl said. “I’m proud of our team, and we will take all this energy from our wins Thursday into flipping seats in the Tennessee General Assembly, and beyond. Knox County residents want and deserve more, and we will keep fighting to bring progress for them.”
Shane Jackson’s election Thursday to County Commission by two points solidified Democrats’ hold on District 4 (Bearden, Northshore). School Board Member Katherine Bike flipped District 4 blue in 2022 with her election.
Other notable Democratic strides Thursday:
Damon Rawls was elected to County Commission in District 1, keeping the district blue with a 76-24 win.
Commission Chairwoman Courtney Durrett won re-election with a whopping 62 percent of the vote.
Anne Templeton won 51 percent of the vote in a three-way race in North Knoxville’s District 2.
Tennessee House Rep. Sam McKenzie won a hard-fought primary challenge funded by special-interest groups. He remains in a strong position to maintain his seat in November.
Tennessee House Rep. Gloria Johnson—our hometown hero—pulled 90 percent of the vote in Knox County (70 percent statewide) to face off against Marsha Blackburn in November for U.S. Senate.
Democrats contested more races than ever before in August, and we expect that trend to continue.
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Media Contact: Stuart Hohl: chair@knoxcountydemocrats.org
Knox Dems is the Knox County, Tennessee, Democratic Party. Knox County has shifted 14 points toward Democrats over the past decade, and since 2014, local Dems have made gains over the local GOP by flipping seats in each election cycle since.
It’s not a matter of if Knox County flips blue, it’s when.
2023 Summer Intern Program
This summer Standing Tall Strategies, founded by Sara Fischer and Gloria Johnson, lead a 6 week campaign management bootcamp to raise up the next generation of campaign staff for the 2024 election cycle. This class set a new standard in teaching political skills that are typically only learned on-the-job. Topics featured volunteer recruitment, voter contact, fundraising, and communication strategies; all taught from expert experience. I and 8 other interns were fortunate to participate in the course after receiving scholarships from the Knox County Democratic Party. In addition to weekly classes, interns were required to plan and host two events: a fundraiser and training event for KCDP Leadership.
The 2024 Party Preview Fundraiser took place on July 27th at Hi-Wire Brewing in South Knoxville. Over $9,500 was raised in ticket sales and donations! Sara Fischer and the Standing Tall Strategies Interns spoke about their program and got folks excited for the 2024 election season. In early August the interns also held a virtual training for KCDP Leadership. If you or anyone else are looking for campaign staff in the upcoming year, contact KCDP to recruit our newest trained!
- Makaela Webb
Davis Sponsors Voter Suppression Bill To End Early Voting
Newly-elected 18th District Representative Elaine Davis has joined extremists within days of her swearing in to the Tennessee General Assembly.
Straight out of the gate Davis introduced legislation to end all early voting in Tennessee via House Bill 1099. Once the media shed some light on her efforts to disenfranchise voters, she quickly retreated.
2/8/2023, Knoxville, TN – Newly-elected 18th District Representative Elaine Davis has joined extremists within days of her swearing in to the Tennessee General Assembly.
Straight out of the gate Davis introduced legislation to end all early voting in Tennessee via House Bill 1099. Once the media shed some light on her efforts to disenfranchise voters, she quickly retreated.
At a time when Tennessee ranks 47th in the nation in voter turnout, Davis’ bill would have deleted the section from the Tennessee law that establishes guidelines for early voting. For the last twelve years, the supermajority has enacted multiple laws to make it more difficult to vote in Tennessee. Davis quickly jumped on the far-right bandwagon with Republican election deniers by introducing this legislation intended to further suppress the vote in Knox County.
District 18 voter Doug Veum said, “It is really disappointing to see our new representative who was sent to Nashville to improve the lives of Knoxville families make voter suppression her number one priority. Our state legislature has already passed multiple laws to make it harder for citizens to participate in the democratic process. I just don’t understand why Rep. Davis wants to make it harder for working Tennesseans, seniors, and young adults to vote.”
After media reports, Davis backtracked on her bill and removed her name off of the legislation. Now she says that the bill doesn’t represent her intention in its current form.
It seems that Elaine Davis is either ignorant of how the legislative process works, ignorant to the wishes of her constituents who deeply support early voting, or she is simply just interested in suppressing the vote further in Tennessee because her favorite twice impeached and two time popular vote losing President blames his embarrassing failures on early voting and ballot access. Or perhaps…it is all three.