Progress cannot wait for the TNDP
At ChangeTN, we are very clear with the driving force behind what we do: Progress cannot wait. Nowhere is that more accurate than the Tennessee Democratic Party (TNDP).
Let me clarify why ChangeTN, a non-partisan progressive organization, feels the need to become involved in the internal elections of the state Democratic Party. As progressives, we use the tools available to push forward progress to improve the lives of working people.
The Tennessee Democratic Party is a tool that should be used by progressives to push forward our agenda. Right now, the weak state of the TNDP not only harms Democrats, but it also undermines the progressive future of Tennessee.
We need a TNDP that ensures all candidates have access to immutable infrastructure. We need a TNDP that sees climate action, healthcare for all, and justice transformation as core principles. We need a TNDP that fights to win municipal seats to build a bench for the future.
To build a better TNDP, we need a progressive chairperson that understands campaign infrastructure, is committed to coalition building between moderates and progressives, and can fundraise to power the party’s efforts.
Since the TNDP is a tool that so many organizations depend on, this chair’s election should not be a closed process. Even though the electorate is limited to the TNDP Executive Committee, we believe that this conversation about the chair and the party’s future should be a public process.
To that end, ChangeTN, in cooperation with other progressive leaders and organizations statewide, has released our endorsement application for TNDP Chair.
After the application period closes on December 1, 2020, we will release our recommendations and work with progressives across the state to organize constituent communication with TNDP Executive Committee representatives.
Progress cannot wait, even for internal party politics.
