From Lauren Bealore, Associate Director of State & Local Policy at Prosperity Now 

In the last 4 years, state power and legislative movement have continued to rise into the media spotlight. With an emerging crop of young legislators pushing for transparency, accountability and challenging the socially constructed status quo built on the backs of racism, there has been a growing counterculture of state legislative leadership. As a response to both the 2020 and 2022 election cycles, GOP-led legislatures, particularly in red states, have been committed to the dual consciousness of their policy proposals. Their attempted strategic approach to “protect democracy” has been consistently revealed as modern-day Jerry Falwell rhetoric to uphold white supremacy at the expense of marginalized bodies.  

In recent news, we witnessed this firsthand attempt with the expulsion of Tennessee Freshman legislators Representatives Justin Pearson (86th District) and Representative Justin Jones (52nd District). Both representatives, alongside Representative Gloria Johnson who was spared from expulsion by one vote on the House floor, joined a protest for gun control reform March 2023 mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville. Although both Representative Pearson and Representative Jones have been reinstated with support from the Nashville City Council, their emphasis and action to put a spotlight on the history of Republican control in Tennessee has sparked national interest. Both of these young, Black legislators join a new age political “Black pack”, a revolutionary nod to the 1950’s rat pack, that has emerged in the Tennessee legislature. Alongside Representative Torrey Harris (90th District) and our spotlight co-contributor Senator London Lamar (33rd District), these Millennial Black voices have created a new era of good trouble in not only Tennessee politics but politics nationally. Each with unapologetic tenacity and the credentials to match, they have brought innovation, grit, and transparent backgrounds that highlight the inequities in housing, education, and financial security policies that overwhelmingly disproportionately impact Black and Brown families in states and municipalities.   

This month, this series will highlight a state and legislator that I have had the pleasure to work with personally and witness the continuous struggle to push for policy centered around equity while experiencing the racially motivated undertones of dismissal. The gap in Tennessee continues to widen when it comes to partisan play; so where does that leave the future passage of bipartisan policy in this state? 

From London Lamar, Tennessee State Senator, Chairwoman of the Senate Democratic Caucus  

As the youngest woman in the Tennessee General Assembly, I know firsthand the importance of young people being in a position to make substantial change. When I was first elected as a state representative in 2018 to a Republican-led legislature, I was encouraged to “go with the flow.” I was told not to stay away from challenging the traditions of how the legislature operated. The road has not been easy, and the dysfunction in our legislature is undeniable as Tennessee has stayed in the national spotlight for the murder of Tyre Nichols and the supermajority’s latest attempt to demolish democracy.  

But now, there's been a shift in the halls of the legislature. Tennesseans are electing young people to represent their diverse voices, perspectives, and backgrounds. Tennesseans want and deserve representation that is willing to step out in the forefront even if it means they are standing alone. Tennesseans are activated and demanding real change that will improve their lives and the lives of our children. In the wake of the Covenant School, the nation now sees the power in our voices here in the South; and I, along with my colleagues, am ready and positioned to show the world that the South has something to say. 

As the Chairwoman of Tennessee’s Senate Democratic Caucus, I have charged my members to focus on the kitchen table issues that keep families up at night: advancing good-paying jobs, ending childhood poverty, expanding access to quality and affordable healthcare, and ensuring a robust and equitable education for our children. I’ve also called on my caucus to be progressive and innovative in the policy solutions that we propose. This year, that is exactly what we’ve done. Thus far this legislative session, we have advanced legislation on consumer protections for homeowners, extending TennCare’s postpartum coverage, expungement, removing taxes on groceries, infant care, and feminine hygiene products, freezing property taxes for the elderly, ensuring that the Civil Rights Movement is taught in schools. My colleagues and I are also committed to elevating the work of our constituents’ voices and making sure that their long-time concerns are amplified. This is needed to ensure that we move forward not backwards.  

Is there potential for more bipartisan legislation in Tennessee? Absolutely! I and my caucus welcome that. However, any legislation that Democrats sponsor must be focused on finding real solutions for our communities. Already, I have witnessed some bipartisanship in an area that I am particularly passionate about: maternal health. After 3 years of advocacy around the impact of doulas on maternal health, Governor Lee included a $1 million-dollar doula services pilot program in this year’s budget. With activated constituents and the national spotlight, Tennessee is positioned to make extraordinary change for our communities. And the youth of our time will lead us in making that change!