If you're also fired up about these issues - let's tackle them together.

Call to Action

An Economy that Works for All

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An Economy that Works for All

Working hard should get you ahead, not put you behind. As an entrepreneur, innovator, and jobs-creator, I believe that East Tennesseans should have access to abundant, good jobs that contribute to our society, economy, and create financial stability for workers. We live in the richest country in the history of the world, but <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/2025-rise-americans-living-paycheck-2128753">67% of workers </a>still live paycheck to paycheck.&nbsp; The cost of living – from housing to groceries to healthcare – has skyrocketed, but our wages have not kept up. A working mom in Lenoir City should never have to decide between paying their rent and feeding their kids. A Grainger County farmer should never have to live in fear that a medical event will bankrupt them. A family in Knoxville should never have to leave their hometown because they've been priced out. East Tennessee is home to a culture of entrepreneurship, innovation, and hard work. But short-sighted, billionaire-backed policies mean that <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jobs-manufacturing-trump-tariffs-economy/">we're losing thousands of manufacturing jobs</a>, small businesses are hurting from <a href="https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-trump-administrations-trade-wars-are-crushing-u-s-small-businesses/">the President's trade war</a>, and <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/08/27/majorities-of-adults-see-decline-of-union-membership-as-bad-for-the-us-and-working-people/">union membership is half of the U.S. average, and on the decline</a>. Our farmers are struggling with the <a href="https://tennesseelookout.com/2025/09/15/tn-soybean-farmers-face-desperate-situation-amid-inflation-weather-extremes-and-tariffs/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">loss of their biggest markets due to Trump's ongoing trade war</a>. Instead of helping hard-working East Tennesseans get ahead, America’s wealth is accumulating amongst the ultra-rich. A successful future for our workforce, our economy, and our country means passing legislation that supports workers, families, and innovation, not just the already-wealthy. What I’ll work for in Congress to fix it:<ul><li>Secure federal appropriations for workforce development and job training programs that bring high-paying jobs back to East Tennessee</li><li>Fight for East Tennessee’s share of infrastructure dollars to invest in much-needed infrastructure projects across East Tennessee while expanding apprenticeship and trade school opportunities so that local workers can build their own communities and make a good living doing it</li><li>Cosponsor and vote for a federal minimum wage increase – pushing to raise the floor to at least $15/hour with phased increases so workers can afford to live and small businesses can plan ahead</li><li>Hold corporations accountable for violating labor laws and anti-trust practices. When corporations break the law to make a quick buck for their shareholders, they need to face justice just like the rest of us</li><li>Champion legislation to make America lead R&amp;D again: I’ll support increased federal investment in STEM education, basic and applied research, national labs, and emerging technology&nbsp;</li><li>Advocate for public-private manufacturing partnerships: I’ll work to bring manufacturing grants and tax incentives to East Tennessee businesses that create quality local jobs and lower costs for consumers</li><li>Push for robust implementation and additional funding to grow domestic semiconductor production, protect national security, create skilled jobs, and reduce our dependence on foreign supply chains</li><li>Cosponsor legislation to close billionaire tax loopholes and end carried interest deductions, crack down on offshore sheltering, and establish a minimum tax on extreme wealth so the ultra-rich pay what working Tennesseans already do</li><li>Expand and fund national service programs to allow for Americans to give back to their country and their communities</li></ul>

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We have billions of dollars in backlog infrastructure projects. We send federal dollars to Washington, and I'll advocate to bring those home to invest in our district. Here's what I'll work for in Congress:

My Plan to Invest in East TN Infrastructure

<ul><li>Fund our most critical road and bridge projects by using my engineering background to direct federal dollars to our district </li><li>Close the broadband gap in rural communities </li><li>Invest in East Tennessee builders through vocational and technical education </li><li>Bring funding for the clean water upgrades our counties need </li><li>Advocate for federal transit grants to connect our communities </li><li>Upgrade our public schools and the technology our students use so every kid starts with a real shot</li></ul>

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<h2>What happens if we do all this work and we don't win?</h2><h4>I know that it is scary to cultivate tender hope, work like hell, and be disappointed again.</h4><h4>But this campaign won't measure success by one night in November.</h4><h4>Yes, we're going to work like the stakes couldn't be higher to flip this district - because they couldn't be.</h4><h4>But we're also going to run a campaign over the next 13 months focused on serving Tennesseans in our district.</h4><h4>We're going to make this campaign a vehicle for change that outlasts a single election. We're going to build coalitions, mobilize volunteers, and remind the people of East Tennessee that they have power.</h4><h4>We're going to create a movement for positive change in East Tennessee and beyond that stretches far beyond next November.</h4><h2>Let's do this - because we are the cavalry. </h2>

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East Tennesseans deserve better. These are some of the top policy priorities our campaign is focused on.

Fighting for Our Community

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Working hard should get you ahead, not put you behind.A successful future for our workforce, our economy, and our country means passing legislation that supports workers, families, and innovation, not just the already-wealthy.<a href="/27f4014a-c740-4562-9a56-564528bf859a" style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">&gt;&gt;&gt; Learn more</a>

A healthcare system’s success should be measured by how many patients it heals, not how much profit it generates for its shareholders.Quality healthcare should be affordable and accessible to everyone who needs it.<a href="/66de8c45-91af-41f6-89c9-55b4669baa03" style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">&gt;&gt;&gt; Learn more</a>

Healthcare Focused on People, Not Profits

We live in a representative democracy – yet so many of us don’t feel represented. Because we aren’t.The system is rigged because our elected officials are bought off by corporate interests. If we are going to solve any of the crises we face, we have to fight corruption and fix what’s broken in our government.<a href="/91cd10c5-10c5-4374-9ccc-65ecb861a7c1" style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">&gt;&gt;&gt; Learn more</a>

A Government that Actually Represents Us

I may have a PhD in Civil Engineering, but you don’t need a doctoral degree to see that our infrastructure has not kept up with our community’s growth – and that is making everyone’s lives harder.We send federal tax dollars to Washington. We deserve a Representative who will fight to bring those dollars home and invest in our region.<a href="/0ef9cacc-afbc-438a-ba08-72ca1aac02a8" style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">&gt;&gt;&gt; Learn more</a>

Building Better Infrastructure&nbsp;

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How do Tim Burchett and I compare on the issues?

<h3>Michaela Barnett is not fighting for corporate interests, the political establishment, or personal gain.</h3><h2>Michaela is standing up for East Tennessee.</h2>Michaela Barnett is a scientist, small business owner, and spent the last year working in Congress, where she learned something:<h4>Congress is not working for us. </h4>Gas prices are soaring, groceries cost too much, and rents are out of control all across East Tennessee.&nbsp; Washington insiders on both sides of the aisle aren't working to make our lives better — they're waiting it out.That’s not how we build the future that we deserve.Speaking out is important, but Michaela knows that we can't just be a voice in opposition — we have to show the American people our vision for the future, our plan for how we're going to achieve it, and fight for it with all our might. That's why Michaela is running to serve the people of East Tennessee.&nbsp;

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Let's put hope to work

East Tennessee used to be a place where folks could thrive, not just survive. During his time in Congress, Tim consistently has helped the elite, not the working class. Here's his record:

Tim's Record on Our Economy

<ul><li>Tim Burchett has not held an in-person town hall since <a href="https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-burchett-announces-town-hall-meeting-mobile-office-hours-feb" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2020</a>. How can he know what’s working for us if he won't talk to us? </li><li><a href="https://www.congress.gov/votes/house/119-2/11" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Voted</a> to <a href="https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/congressional-district-interactive-map-how-much-will-aca-premium-payments-rise-if-enhanced-subsidies-expire/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">increase our healthcare costs by 3x</a> and take food off the table for more than <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/politics/2025/10/21/east-tennessee-snap-benefits-cut-government-shutdown-tim-burchett/86805457007/">55,000 East Tennesseans</a></li><li>Voted to <a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2026114">extend President Trump's war in Iran</a>, which is driving up the price of gas, groceries, and other everyday essentials for East Tennesseans, costing Tennessee households more than <a href="https://iranwarcost.watson.brown.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">$450 each</a> on gas and diesel alone</li><li>Voted against <a href="https://climatepower.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/200K-Clean-Energy-Boom_Tennessee.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">$176 million in investments</a> for TN-02 that would have lowered our energy costs</li><li>Voted against <a href="https://rmi.org/ira-funding-potential-by-state-and-sector/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">$22 billion in investments</a> for Tennessee’s energy, industry, and transportation sectors</li><li>Voted <a href="https://climatepower.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/200K-Clean-Energy-Boom_Tennessee.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">against 690 new good-paying jobs</a> for TN-02 in 2022</li><li><a href="https://www.crfb.org/blogs/obbba-dynamic-score-comes-47-trillion" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Voted to add $4.2 TRILLION</a> to the national debt to give tax cuts to the elite and foreign investors</li><li>Supported President Trump's haphazard tariff policies, which increased <a href="https://taxfoundation.org/research/all/federal/trump-tariffs-trade-war/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">costs for East Tennessee households</a> without bringing any manufacturing home</li><li><a href="https://itep.org/tax-provisions-in-trump-megabill-national-and-state-level-estimates/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Voted to deliver 45%</a> of all tax cuts to the wealthiest 5% of Americans while the bottom 40% come out behind after tariffs — and paid for it by cutting the Medicaid and food assistance that keep rural hospitals open and East Tennessee families fed</li></ul>

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Issues

Insurance companies and big pharma continue to take advantage of those most in need, increasing consumer costs and denying care. Meanwhile, these companies keep posting record profits. This is unacceptable.&nbsp;What I’ll work for in Congress to fix it:

My Plan to Fix Our Broken Healthcare System

<ul><li>Rein in insurance company abuses by requiring insurers to spend more of every premium dollar on actual patient care and health outcomes, penalizing companies that routinely deny valid claims, and support antitrust action to break up corporate healthcare monopolies that dominate the market to post record profits while people go without care&nbsp;</li><li>Work to restore and expand the ACA premium tax credit to make our current healthcare options affordable while ensuring that insurance companies aren’t taking advantage of government dollars</li><li>Advocate for a universal healthcare option, while preserving your freedom to purchase additional insurance coverage</li><li>Champion drug price caps by building on the IRA's Medicare negotiation framework to extend hard price caps to insulin, cancer drugs, and other essential medications for all Americans, not just seniors&nbsp;</li><li>Empower Medicaid to negotiate drug prices, directly lowering your costs for your medications&nbsp;</li><li>Fight to lift the cap on federally funded medical residencies to add thousands of new residency slots annually and address the physician shortage before it becomes a full collapse</li><li>Draw more medical professionals to our region by increasing Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates in rural areas</li><li>Fund community-based health programs so they can solve the biggest health problems in their areas</li><li>Support evidence-based substance abuse treatment to address the opioid crisis in our communities</li></ul>

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Working hard should get you ahead, not put you behind. Here’s how I am making sure that every East Tennessean has access to the opportunities they deserve What I'll work for in Congress:

My Plan to Make The Economy Work for the Working Class

<ul><li>I'm already holding regular town halls across our district and am committed to continue holding in-person town halls when elected. Check <a href="https://www.michaelafortennessee.com/events" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">my events page</a> for upcoming town halls</li><li>Fight for East Tennessee's share of federal infrastructure dollars to put local workers to work building our own communities</li><li>Bring good-paying jobs home through workforce training, apprenticeships, and manufacturing investments that keep money in East Tennessee</li><li>Hold corporations accountable when they break labor laws and rig the system against workers</li><li>Invest in public schools and universal pre-K so every East Tennessee kid starts with a real shot</li><li>Push for a livable minimum wage so a full-time job actually pays the bills</li><li>Restore the ACA tax credits and crack down on insurance companies that deny valid claims</li></ul>

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Our infrastructure isn't keeping up with growth, and East Tennesseans' quality of life is worsening as a result. Here's Tim's record:

Tim's Record on East TN Infrastructure

<ul><li>Voted against <a href="https://climatepower.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/200K-Clean-Energy-Boom_Tennessee.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">$176 million in investments</a> in TN-02 and lowering our energy costs</li><li>Voted against <a href="https://rmi.org/ira-funding-potential-by-state-and-sector/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">$22 billion in investments</a> for Tennessee’s energy, industry, and transportation sectors</li><li>Voted against <a href="https://www.congress.gov/votes/house/117-1/369" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">$6 billion</a> in critical funding for Tennessee roads and bridges</li><li>Last year, Tim could only secure <a href="https://appropriations.house.gov/fy26-member-requests/fy26-community-project-funding" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">0.6%</a> of the money he advocated for to improve our roads</li></ul>

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ADD YOUR NAME TO MY LIST OF SUPPORTERS!

<h3>If we get 100 donors by the end of the year, Michaela's going to do a polar plunge.</h3>

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Michaela Barnett, PhD, is a scientist, small business owner, and spent the last year working in Congress — so she knows firsthand what isn’t working, why, and what to do about it.

Meet Michaela

Tim Burchett critiques other people's plans to fix our broken healthcare system, but he has no plan himself to bring costs down or increase access for the people of East Tennessee. Here's his record:

Tim's Record on Healthcare

<ul><li>Supported <a href="https://www.congress.gov/votes/house/119-1/281" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">shutting down the government</a> instead of lowering your healthcare costs</li><li><a href="https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/congressional-district-interactive-map-how-much-will-aca-premium-payments-rise-if-enhanced-subsidies-expire/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Voted to raise your healthcare costs by up to 300%</a> just to keep Washington insiders and Donald Trump happy</li><li>Voted against <a href="https://www.congress.gov/votes/house/117-2/476" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">capping the price of insulin</a></li><li>Slashed funding for <a href="https://www.wate.com/news/researchers-concerned-9-hospitals-in-tn-could-close-due-to-potential-medicaid-cuts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">9 rural Tennessee hospitals</a></li><li>Voted to take away health insurance from over <a href="https://www.jec.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/9cfdee90-dd29-41e8-97da-b5dcdc0317cf/updated-jec-fact-sheet-on-district-level-impacts-of-health-care-cuts.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">29,000 East Tennesseans</a></li></ul>

tim on healthcare

Michaela's lifelong drive to make things better is why she went back to school for her PhD, and why she started her small business.After a year serving as an AmeriCorps member, Michaela wanted more tools in her tool belt to solve society's biggest issues.While doing her PhD in Civil Engineering and researching problems with our waste system, Michaela decided she would help solve them - not just study them.She launched her small business, KnoxFill, while she was a full-time graduate student. KnoxFill, a refillery focused on sustainability, community, and uplifting other small businesses, quickly became a Knoxville staple serving thousands of East Tennesseans.

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<h2>This campaign is going to take all of us. </h2><h3>Whether you can host a house party, write postcards, door knock, or connect East Tennesseans with the resources they need - we'd love your help.</h3>

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Healthcare Focused on People, Not Profits

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<h2>Privacy Policy</h2>Updated 4/1/2026This Privacy Policy applies to the website <a href="http://michaelafortennessee.com">michaelafortennessee.com</a> (the "Site") owned and operated by Michaela for Tennessee, a congressional campaign.Michaela for Tennessee has created this privacy policy to explain how we use information that you may provide while visiting this Site and to demonstrate our firm commitment to Internet privacy. By using this Site, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.<h4>Contributions to Michaela for Tennessee - public information</h4>Michaela for Tennessee is required to file regular reports with the Federal Election Commission that publicly disclose the name, address, occupation and employer of persons who contribute over $200 during an election cycle, along with the amount and date of the contribution. State and local election laws may also require us to disclose this information at a lower itemization threshold, depending on the committee's activity.<h4>Campaign and Donation Messages from Michaela for Tennessee</h4>Sign up online or via mobile to receive campaign &amp; donation messages from Michaela for Tennessee. Recurring subscription. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt-out.The above excludes text messaging originator opt-in data and consent, which information will not be shared with any third parties, provided that the foregoing does not apply to sharing (1) with vendors, consultants and other service providers who need access to such information to carry out work on our behalf; and (2) if we believe disclosure is required by any applicable law, rule, or regulation or to comply with law enforcement or legal process.For support regarding the Program, email us at <a href="mailto:us@ocasiocortez.com">cavalry@michaelafortennessee.com</a>. Please note that the use of this email address is not an acceptable method of opting out of the program.WE DO NOT SELL, RENT, LOAN, TRADE, LEASE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER FOR PROFIT ANY PHONE NUMBERS OR PERSONAL INFORMATION COLLECTED OR RECEIVED THROUGH THE PROGRAM TO ANY THIRD PARTY.<h4>Amendments and consent to this privacy policy</h4>We retain the right to amend or otherwise update this Privacy Policy at any time. By using our Site, you consent to the collection and use of the information as we have described. If we change our policies and practices, we will post the changes in our Privacy Policy so that you are always aware of them. With this knowledge, you can make an informed decision about whether you wish to provide personal information to us.<h4>How to contact us</h4>If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, you may contact us by sending an e-mail to <a href="mailto:us@ocasiocortez.com">cavalry@michaelafortennessee.com</a>

Building Better Infrastructure

I understand why everyone wants to move to East Tennessee. We're blessed with beautiful mountains, culture, and community, and for a long time we were an affordable place to work, live, and raise a family. I also understand why many East Tennesseans don’t want more people to move here. I may have a PhD in Civil Engineering, but you don’t need a doctoral degree to see that our infrastructure has not kept up with our community’s growth – and that is making everyone’s lives harder.&nbsp;According to <a href="https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/tacir/infrastructure/2024infra2022-2027/2024_Infrastructure.pdf">Tennessee's own infrastructure inventory</a>, the counties that make up our district face nearly $7 billion in infrastructure needs over the next five years. But statewide, two-thirds of identified needs don’t have an identified funding source. Traffic is worse than ever. Our housing shortage is driving up costs and pushing families out of their hometown.&nbsp;Our roads and bridges need more than $3 billion in investments. Our schools need more than $300 million in renovations and new construction, not to mention reliable internet access. Our water and wastewater systems need around $450 million in repairs and upgrades. In some of our rural communities, some East Tennesseans still don’t have clean drinking water in their homes.&nbsp;We send federal tax dollars to Washington. We deserve a Representative who will fight to bring those dollars home and invest in our region.&nbsp;What I’ll work for in Congress to give East Tennesseans the quality of life they deserve:&nbsp; <ul><li>Fund our most critical road and bridge projects by using my engineering background and committee work to direct federal dollars towards critical road and bridge repairs</li><li>Push for federal incentives that reduce red tape in existing urban and suburban areas so that the market can respond to our housing shortage before more families are priced out while protecting our rural areas and farmland&nbsp;</li><li>Expand the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) to increase the number of affordable units built in existing communities while adding criteria to prevent overdeveloping the farmland and green spaces that make East Tennessee worth living in&nbsp;</li><li>Fight for clean water funding for the upgrades our counties need, so no East Tennessean has to wonder whether the water coming out of their tap is safe</li><li>Close the broadband gap in rural communities by advocating for full implementation of BEAD program funding and pushing for accountability so that federal broadband dollars actually reach the rural corners of our district that are still waiting for reliable internet access</li><li>Invest in vocational and trades education by working to secure federal career and technical education (CTE) funding for programs that will train the construction and energy workforce our region needs to build its own future</li><li>Advocate for federal transit grants to add bus routes and advance regional rail projects that connect workers to jobs without adding to our traffic crisis</li><li>Support legislation that directs clean energy tax credits, grants, and manufacturing incentives to East Tennessee to bring clean energy investment and jobs to our region while building on our region's existing strengths in energy production</li><li>Push for federal education infrastructure dollars to address the $330 million backlog in school renovations and new construction projects across our district, and make sure every classroom has the technology students need to compete</li></ul>

Our government is broken.&nbsp; We live in a representative democracy – yet so many of us don’t feel represented. Because we aren’t.&nbsp;&nbsp; I understand why so many people don’t trust that our government is working in our best interests. Because in so many cases, it isn’t. The system is rigged against us, which is why I’m focused on reforming our government so we can reclaim our power.&nbsp; Campaign finance laws make it so corporations and wealthy individuals can spend without limit on our elections.&nbsp; Members of Congress get rich from trading stocks while their constituents at home struggle.&nbsp; Rampant gerrymandering lets politicians choose their voters instead of the other way around.&nbsp; If we are going to solve any of the crises we face – access to affordable healthcare and housing, ensuring that AI doesn’t take all of our jobs, protecting our environment, and so many more – we have to fix what’s broken in our government.&nbsp; Every other fight we need to win depends on having a government that actually works for the people. That's why government reform is at the top of my agenda.&nbsp; What I’ll work for in Congress to fix it:&nbsp;<ul><li>Limit political spending by massive corporations</li><li>A constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and restore power to the people</li><li>End partisan gerrymandering by requiring independent redistricting commissions, ensuring free and fair elections where every vote counts equally</li><li>Ban congressional stock trading</li><li>Set reasonable age limits for members of Congress, President, and Vice President</li><li>Institute a lobbying moratorium or ban for members of Congress after they’ve left office&nbsp;</li><li>Establish term limits for members of Congress</li><li>Institute term limits and a binding Code of Judicial Ethics for the Supreme Court</li></ul>

Relational Organizing

<h2 style="text-align: center;">I'm running against Tim Burchett. Why?</h2>A lot of people in East Tennessee like Tim Burchett. He’s friendly, he’s approachable, and he talks a good game about fighting the Washington machine. I understand why he's won so many elections.But just being likable doesn’t make you a good Representative. Talking the talk means little when you're not walking the walk. Tim has been a career politician for 32 years, and has spent the last seven years as our Representative in Congress. His record tells a different story than his speeches and social media posts do.&nbsp;East Tennessee deserves someone that is going to fight to represent us even when it’s hard.&nbsp;He's had seven years in Congress. What has he done?&nbsp;In that time, <a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/tim-burchett/B001309?q=%7B%22sponsorship%22%3A%22sponsored%22%7D">not a single bill he has sponsored has become law</a>. Not one. But his votes have had real consequences for real East Tennesseans.Here’s how Tim and I stack up against each other.

Running against tim

<h4>Flipping this district is going to be hard, no doubt about it.</h4><h4> But it's not impossible.</h4>

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A Government that Actually Represents Us

Tim Burchett is part of the problem he rails against. He may have gone to D.C. to drain the sewer, but he's became part of the system he loves to criticize. Although he's chairman of the DOGE subcommittee, he hasn't helped make government less corrupt or more efficient. Here's his record:

Tim's Record on Government Corruption

<ul><li>Suspiciously <a href="https://www.quiverquant.com/congresstrading/politician/Tim%20Burchett-B001309" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sold all of his restaurant stock</a> right before COVID hit. He only wants to ban stock trading now that he made money from it </li><li>Collected over <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/profiles/tim-burchett/us_congress/pacs?mpid=1058750&amp;cycle=2020&amp;display=combined" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">$800,000</a> from special interest PACs</li><li>While <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/politics/2025/10/21/east-tennessee-snap-benefits-cut-government-shutdown-tim-burchett/86805457007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">55,000 East Tennesseans</a> worried about losing SNAP benefits, Tim took a vacation to Maine and spent <a href="https://www.fec.gov/data/disbursements/?data_type=processed&amp;committee_id=C00652149&amp;min_date=10%2F07%2F2025&amp;max_date=10%2F07%2F2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">$900</a> on a limo and <a href="https://www.fec.gov/data/disbursements/?data_type=processed&amp;committee_id=C00652149&amp;min_date=10%2F07%2F2025&amp;max_date=10%2F07%2F2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">$1,000</a> for one night at a hotel</li><li>Unavailable to his constituents, having not held an in-person town hall since <a href="https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-burchett-announces-town-hall-meeting-mobile-office-hours-feb" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2020</a></li><li>Spent <a href="https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202504159755805425" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">$4,471</a> on a SINGLE MEAL at the Capitol Hill Club in DC to wine and dine the Washington elite</li><li>Voted against <a href="https://www.congress.gov/votes/house/117-1/62" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">banning partisan gerrymandering</a></li><li>Voted against closing the loophole that lets <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">foreign money buy our elections</a></li><li><a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/tim-burchett/B001309?q=%7B%22sponsorship%22%3A%22sponsored%22%7D" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Not a single bill he has sponsored has become law</a>. Not one</li><li>Tim's <a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/tim-burchett/B001309?q=%7B%22sponsorship%22%3A%22cosponsored%22%7D" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">support of a bill</a> means it is 35% less likely to become a law</li><li>Tim thinks Congresspeople should serve <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-joint-resolution/12/text" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">three terms</a>, but he is running for his fifth. Hypocrisy has never been more obvious</li></ul>

tim government reform

I understand why so many people don’t trust that our government is working in our best interests – because in so many cases, it isn’t. To solve any of the problems we face, we need to fix corruption and stagnation in government. Here's what I'll work for in Washington:

My Plan to Reform Our Government

<ul><li>Limit political spending by massive corporations</li><li>Ban congressional stock trading</li><li>A constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and restore voting power to the American people</li><li>End partisan gerrymandering by requiring independent redistricting commissions, ensuring free and fair elections where every vote counts equally</li><li>Set reasonable age limits for members of Congress, President, and Vice President</li><li>Establish term limits for members of Congress</li><li>Institute term limits and a binding Code of Judicial Ethics for the Supreme Court</li><li>Support a lobbying moratorium or ban for members of Congress after they’ve left office</li></ul>

mb government

If you're ready for a change in Representation, I'd be honored to earn your support.

Questions? Email Nat Morales, Community Resource Director for Michaela for Tennessee.

The problems we are facing are huge and overwhelming. But they are not unsolvable.A better future is possible - but we can't just hope for it. We have to work for it. Let's put hope to work.

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As a scientist and entrepreneur, Michaela knew two important levers to create positive change in the world.But she wanted more tools to create impact, which led her to a science policy fellowship in our nation's capital.She worked in the House of Representatives in the office of Congressman Tonko, where she covered the immigration, Social Security, financial services, taxes, housing, and women's health portfolios.Michaela started her fellowship in September 2024, placing her on the front lines in the fight against DOGE, the Trump administration's disregard of the Constitution, and the passage of the OBBBA reconciliation bill, which will have devastating consequences in East Tennessee if we fail to fight back.

Meet Michaela

<h4>This is the longest held Republican district in the country. (Yes, the country). It has been red since 1867, when each party stood for very different things than they do now.</h4><h4>But this East Tennessee stronghold is winnable.</h4><h4>How?</h4><h4>If Republicans turn out like they usually do in midterms, but Democratic voters turn out like they usually do during a presidential election, we get pretty darn close to flipping TN-02.</h4><h4>Add in:</h4><h4>- People who usually vote red who are mad as hell at Tim</h4><h4>- Newly energized young voters</h4><h4>- Independents who want someone who will stand up to Trump's terrible economic policies</h4><h4>- Disenchanted East Tennesseans who used to think that their votes didn't matter</h4><h4>- Working class families struggling to live with rising costs of everyday essentials</h4><h4>- Constituents who want a rep who will actually show up to town halls and listen to them</h4><h4>- Voters alarmed by Republican's extreme immigration policies</h4><h4>And we've got a real shot at this.</h4>

Read below for some of our top priorities

Headline text here

An Economy that Works for East Tennesseans

Quality Healthcare We Can Afford

A Government that Serves Us

Investing in Tennessee's Infrastructure and Workforce

<h3>Michaela Barnett is Fighting for East Tennessee</h3><h4>I'm running for U.S. House of Representatives in Tennessee's 2nd Congressional District.</h4>

Fighting for East Tn

<h2>Our local TSA agents need our help.</h2>Knoxville TSA agents have been working without a paycheck for weeks, and many of them are struggling.The Senate passed a bill to fund TSA and most of DHS — but House Republicans rejected it Friday, with Speaker Johnson <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/27/dhs-tsa-shutdown-congress.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">proposing a different stopgap instead</a>. That alternative is considered unlikely to pass the Senate. President Trump signed <a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/03/27/congress/tsa-workers-will-start-getting-paychecks-again-00848891">a memo to pay TSA agents</a>, but it remains unclear exactly how that will work or when paychecks will arrive. Our neighbors at TYS shouldn't have to wait.My team is coordinating donations to help TSA agents. Our government has failed them, but our community will show up.Drop off items at the Delta counter at Tyson McGhee Airport – anyone can bring donations directly to TYS.Can't make it to the airport? Have questions about what TSA agents need? Contact my Community Resource Director at <a href="mailto:nat@michaelafortennessee.com">nat@michaelafortennessee.com</a>.

Michaela is the kind of person who doesn't just see things the way they are. She sees how they could be, then puts that vision to work.In high school, she was putting on dress drives, starting recycling programs, and organizing visits to local nursing homes.In college, she started her university's first campus-wide composting program, worked at a local family-owned farm, and served as a GED tutor.As an AmeriCorps member at UT Recycling, she launched the UT Free Store, the Grow Lab, and grew the campus-wide food recovery program, three programs that continue to thrive today.

I'm running against Tim Burchett. Curious how we differ on the issues that matter most?

Quality healthcare should be affordable and accessible to everyone who needs it.&nbsp; Instead, we are facing a healthcare crisis in our country that will only get worse. There are millions of Americans who can't afford to pay for basic healthcare needs, our medical workforce is shrinking, and our population is aging. Tennessee ranks 45th in the nation in terms of life expectancy, and has the highest maternal mortality rate of any state. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) kicked millions of Americans off of insurance that they could barely afford, and threatens to close rural hospitals across the country, <a href="https://www.wate.com/news/tennessee/researchers-concerned-9-hospitals-in-tn-could-close-due-to-potential-medicaid-cuts/">including 9 in Tennessee</a>.&nbsp; Insurance companies and big pharma continue to take advantage of those most in need, increasing consumer costs and denying care while posting record profits. This is unacceptable.&nbsp; While these problems affect all of us, these impacts are amplified in the rural and low-income communities that make up East Tennessee. Here, our medical workforce continues to shrink and care shortages emerge as healthcare professionals face rising costs and stagnant reimbursements from insurance companies. At the same time, more than 11% of the district is uninsured since the <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/map-shows-how-much-health-insurance-premiums-will-go-up-in-each-state-11113583">average 60 year old who</a> paid $445 a month last year for insurance is now facing a monthly cost of $1510. A healthcare system’s success should be measured by how many patients it heals, not how much profit it generates for its shareholders.&nbsp; What I’ll work for in Congress to fix it: <ul><li>Rein in insurance company abuses by requiring insurers to spend more of every premium dollar on actual patient care and health outcomes, penalizing companies that routinely deny valid claims, and support antitrust action to break up corporate healthcare monopolies that dominate the market and post record profits while people go without care&nbsp;</li><li>Work to restore and expand the ACA premium tax credit to make our current healthcare options affordable while ensuring that insurance companies aren’t taking advantage of government dollars</li><li>Advocate for a universal healthcare option, while preserving your freedom to purchase additional insurance coverage</li><li>Champion drug price caps by building on the IRA's Medicare negotiation framework to extend hard price caps to insulin, cancer drugs, and other essential medications for all Americans, not just seniors&nbsp;</li><li>Empower Medicaid to negotiate drug prices to directly lower your costs for your medications&nbsp;</li><li>Fight to lift the cap on federally funded medical residencies by supporting the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act which will add thousands of new residency slots annually and address the physician shortage before it becomes a full collapse</li><li>Draw more medical professionals to our region by increasing Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates in rural areas</li><li>Increase telehealth availability and coverage&nbsp;</li><li>Fund community-based health programs so they can solve the biggest problems in their areas</li><li>Support evidence-based substance abuse treatment to address the opioid crisis in our communities</li></ul>

This is going to take all of us. Are you in?

Michaela Barnett for Tennessee-02

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21+ Progressive Speed Dating with Knox Social Club

Ready to meet your progressive match in Knoxville?Join Michaela for Tennessee and Knox Social Club for a 21+ Progressive Speed Dating at Crafty Bastard Brewery West! Meet like-minded folks, share great conversation, and connect with people who care about the future of East Tennessee.After purchasing your ticket, you'll head to&nbsp;Pinyada to let us know who you want to meet during the event!

Phone Bank for Michaela on 4/23

Help us reach voters across TN-02! We're making calls to share Michaela's message and talk to voters across the district. Training provided &amp; no experience necessary! Bring a laptop or phone.

Meet & Greet at Remedy Coffee

Meet Michaela Barnett at Remedy Coffee! We're gathering to discuss what's working, what's not, and how we can build a government that actually serves the people of TN-02. Bring your questions and your ideas!

Phone Bank for Michaela on 4/9

SoKno Pride

Join Michaela for Tennessee at SoKno Pride! Celebrate love, community, and pride in the heart of South Knoxville. SoKno Pride brings neighbors, families, friends, and allies together for a joyful day filled with connection, visibility, and celebration.Interested in helping with our booth at SoKno Pride? RSVP today!

First Friday Poster Competition at Ricky's

Come see community-submitted campaign poster designs, vote for your favorite, and celebrate our local artists while meeting Michaela Barnett and fellow supporters.Your vote matters - help us pick the design that will represent hope and change throughout our district!

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The evidence is clear: ICE unleashed in our communities puts all of us in danger.

ICE in our communities makes all of us less safe | Opinion

This administration has been characterized by chaos, corruption, and bad governance – and we are supposed to believe that they are up to the task of running another country in addition to our own?

What happened to the president of peace and small government? | Letter

30+ Speed Dating with Michaela for Tennessee & Knox Social Club

Looking to connect with like-minded folks in East Tennessee? Join us for our 30+ Progressive Speed Dating - a fun way to meet new people who share your values and build community around the issues that matter. Come find love, share stories, and discover the power of connecting with your neighbors.

We're excited for our first canvass! Location and sign-up info coming SOON!

Michaela for Tennessee Canvassing Launch!

We're hitting the doors for the very first time as Team Michaela! Help us connect with voters across Knox County, training provided and no experience necessary. Just bring your walking shoes!

First Canvass!

Camp Cavalry Phone Bank

Canvass with Michaela for Tennessee 6/23

We're hitting the doors with Team Michaela! Help us connect with voters across Knox County, training provided and no experience necessary. Just bring your walking shoes!

Camp Cavalry Outreach Training & Volunteer Information 

Join us for an in person Camp Cavalry on Tuesday, May 12th from 6-7:30pm at Printshop Beer Co. Camp Cavalry is our volunteer training for Michaela's campaign and we'll walk through our voter outreach program and share all the ways you can get involved: phone banking, canvassing, events, and more. Even if you’ve attended Camp Cavalry before, you won’t want to miss a special announcement about a brand new outreach program we can't wait to share with you! This one's going to change how we connect with our community, and you'll want to be in the room when it launches.

Friend-Banking Empower Office Hours 6/11

Join us on Thursdays from 6-7pm for a brief Empower training session followed by time for your questions.Empower is our volunteer portal where you can friend-bank within your network and help spread the message of hope across district 2!We also offer exclusive opportunities and announcements on the app you won't want to miss! Sign up for your training today.

Phone Bank for Michaela on 4/14

Phone Bank for Michaela on 3/3

Meet Michaela Barnett in Cumberland Gap for an evening of conversation and community. Learn how we're doing things differently as well as sign-up to volunteer for what we know works. Please bring a friend, a question or two, and your hope for a better East Tennessee!

Meet & Greet in Cumberland Gap

Canvass with Cadence Collins in Karns!

We're hitting the doors with Team Michaela and Knox Co School Board District 6 candidate Cadence Collins! Help us connect with voters across Knox County, training provided and no experience necessary. Just bring your walking shoes!

Camp Cavalry Outreach Training & Volunteer Information

Learn the basics of voter outreach - phone banking, canvassing, and how to have great conversations with voters. No experience needed! After, stick around and build community with fellow Cavalry members!

Michaela for TN Canvass 4/11

Join Team Michaela as we hit the doors in Knox County! Help us bring Michaela's message directly to voters across the district. Training provided, no experience necessary. Just show up and bring your walking shoes!

Meet Michaela at the Lighthouse Fundraiser!

Join Michaela Barnett and the volunteer Cavalry for an evening of conversation and community.&nbsp;Michaela is excited to meet you, share remarks, and answer your questions.&nbsp;Please bring a friend or two, your questions, and your hope for a better East Tennessee!

Meet Michaela at the Lighthouse Fundraiser

East Tennessee is a place that values hard work, family, and fairness, and our immigration system should reflect that.&nbsp; Our immigration system should reflect those values through secure and modernized borders, fair and humane processing, and a practical path to citizenship for people who play by the rules and contribute to our communities.&nbsp; The United States is a nation of immigrants who come here seeking a better life for themselves and their families, and to contribute to our nation in the process. I know this firsthand because I am proudly married to one.What I’ll work for in Congress to fix it:<ul><li>Fund a just and humane immigration system to remove the backlog of immigration cases</li><li>Return ICE to 2024 funding levels and mandate comprehensive training and background checks</li><li>Pass legislation to modernize and secure our borders</li><li>Create practical paths to citizenship for the people who play by the rules and contribute to our communities</li><li>Hold public officials, including ICE agents, accountable for their actions by requiring identification just like our local law enforcement</li><li>Prosecute federal agents who break the law</li><li>Upgrade our temporary worker programs to fill essential roles in regions with low unemployment</li><li>Support policies to help those fleeing danger and violence settle into our communities</li></ul>

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Common Sense, Dignified Immigration

Education is the foundation for our future. Every child and young person deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential.&nbsp; But today, we are failing our students and our educators. Our schools are struggling. We're facing an administration that has all but shuttered the <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/21/why-is-trump-dismantling-the-department-of-education-and-whats-next">Department of Education</a>, a national teacher shortage that's <a href="https://foxchattanooga.com/news/local/with-parts-of-tennessee-facing-teacher-shortages-experts-share-how-to-improve-retention">impacting Tennessee</a>, <a href="https://tnscore.org/assets/documents/COVID-19-Impact-Memo-4_Digital-Divide.pdf">unequal access to technology</a>, and <a href="https://www.wsmv.com/2026/04/28/tennessee-is-worst-state-us-spending-public-school-students-national-education-association-finds/">school funding per student that's dead last in the country</a>. Here in Tennessee, the voucher program is stripping our public schools of the already limited resources they need to educate the next generation. I am committed to building an education system that allows every child to learn, grow, and thrive.What I’ll work for in Congress to fix it:<ul><li>Invest in educators by raising salaries to recruit the best and brightest minds to teach our children</li><li>Cap student loan interest rates to make a quality education affordable for every young person</li><li>Push for federal education infrastructure dollars to address the $330 million backlog in school renovations and new construction projects across our district, and make sure every classroom has the technology students need to compete</li><li>Expand dual enrollment funding to reduce the costs of attending higher education</li><li>Increase transparency of federal spending on education</li><li>Lower cost barriers for trade and vocational education to diversify the workforce and prepare for the economy of the future</li><li>Fund affordable childcare and early childhood education to give every child a fair shot at success</li></ul>

Invest in Education

Want to walk with Team Michaela in a neighborhood parade to connect with voters and show community support? Please dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes!We will be provided with more specific line up times, parking information, and expectations as we get closer tot he event!&nbsp;

Knoxville St. Patrick's Day Parade 

We're looking forward to the St. Patrick's Day Parade! Sign up if you'd like to volunteer to walk next to Michaela for TN's vehicle and some special guests!

Michaela for TN Canvass 6/16

We're hitting the doors with Team Michaela in Bearden! Help us connect with voters across Knox County, training provided and no experience necessary. Just bring your walking shoes!

Every person deserves the freedom to make decisions about if, when, and how to grow their families without interference from politicians. I believe in the value of life, and that new parents deserve to be supported, not ignored, while they raise their children. Right now, Tennessee has the <a href="https://www.wkrn.com/news/tennessee-news/tn-highest-maternal-mortality-rate-in-country-cdc-data/">highest maternal mortality rate in the country</a>, medical providers are <a href="https://feminist.org/news/new-study-shows-abortion-bans-are-driving-doctors-out/">fleeing our state</a>, and politicians are trying to control our bodies.What I’ll work for in Congress to fix it:<ul><li>Restore and protect the right to abortion</li><li>Defend access to contraception and fertility treatment</li><li>Rebuild and modernize our maternal healthcare infrastructure&nbsp;</li><li>Fund research to identify best practices in caring for pregnant women</li><li>Support paid parental leave so parents don’t have to choose between financial security and raising children</li><li>Expand access to quality, affordable childcare programs in East Tennessee so parents can work without choosing between their careers and their children</li></ul>

WE ARE THE CAVALRY

Let's put hope to work

Michaela Barnett is Fighting for East Tennessee

I'm running for U.S. House of Representatives in Tennessee's 2nd Congressional District.

An Economy that Works for East Tennesseans

Quality Healthcare We Can Afford

A Government that Serves Us

Investing in Tennessee's Infrastructure and Workforce

We can't do this without your support!

Who is Michaela?