Last week, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) released their 2026 target map showing “where Democrats must focus our attention and resources to strengthen our firewall in state legislatures and counter . . . MAGA extremism.”
After seeing that map, I heard from a lot of people who wondered: where is Tennessee in this map? And if the goal is to counter MAGA extremism, why not focus on states like ours?
We all get it. Resources are not limitless, and organizations have to decide where to invest their time and money and energy. But when you live in a state like ours, it can hurt to see that you’re not even on the map. It can make you feel like we’re on our own.
But here’s the thing. We aren’t on our own. If you feel like a blue dot in a sea of red (or a grayed out spot on a map) – I’m here to tell you that I meet Tennesseans every single day who are working for change. There are thousands of us fighting for the future of our state, and we’re not giving up.
Tennesseans are scrappy. We’re resourceful. We’re going to keep relentlessly doing the work to chip away at our state’s supermajority, because we believe we are worth fighting for.
And I for one feel lucky that Every State Blue believes that, too, which is why Blue Tennessee exists.
Last week, I was lucky enough to sit down with one of the nominees we supported last cycle: Daniel Hawthorne, a high school teacher who ran for HD 40. He told me he’s going to keep running and keep chipping away at the incumbent’s vote count for as long as it takes.
He also told me that Blue Tennessee’s contribution ($1,429 over two disbursements) was the largest donation to his campaign, which he immediately put into yard signs.
To put that into context, his opponent, Republican incumbent Michael Hale, had $90,617 in his coffers before the general election.
At the end of the election, Daniel went back out and picked up 200 of those yard signs, which he plans to use again this year. He’ll add more yard signs this year, then plans to pick those up again next year, too, and keep adding to his campaign materials over time.
See what I mean about Tennesseans? Scrappy. Resourceful.
But because of you – not alone.
Do you want to help candidates like Daniel buy yard signs in 2026?
Then join us today! Because we can’t help scrappy, resourceful Democrats running for office without you.
In solidarity,
Michaela
