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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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<h3>She’s not fighting for corporate interests, the Democratic establishment, or for personal gain.&nbsp;</h3><h2>Michaela is fighting for East Tennessee.</h2>Michaela Barnett 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.While Republicans gave the wealthy a massive tax break on the backs of working families, gutted the federal workforce, and made ICE the biggest police force in the United States, many Democrats in D.C. responded with tactics from an old playbook that don't meet the urgency of the moment we are in. They aren't fighting back — they're waiting it out.That’s not how we change our country for the better. We can’t just wait and hope that we swing a few seats in the midterms by being exactly the same party that keeps losing the working class.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.

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<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

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 research on 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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East Tennesseans deserve better. Here's my plan to get us there.

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<h2>How to handle donations on your website</h2>Run does not process donations directly on our platform, as is standard with most political and advocacy sites.Campaigns are often required to comply with reporting requirements, donation limits, and other regulations, so using a donation processor that specializes in serving campaigns is generally a good idea. Sign up with a donation processor and then on your Pages sidebar, click the Link icon on the Donate page and add the link to your donation page. Some common options for donation processing include:<ul><li><a href="https://secure.actblue.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ActBlue</a></li><li><a href="https://www.campaigndeputy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Campaign Deputy</a> </li><li><a href="https://goodchange.app/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GoodChange</a></li><li><a href="https://numero.ai/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Numero</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ngpvan.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NGP VAN</a></li></ul>

<h2>We are here for you.</h2>If you need help, <a href="https://easttn211.communityos.org/">East Tennessee 211</a> will help connect you with resources and organizations that can provide a wide range of assistance tailored to your specific needs.

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<h2>Privacy Policy</h2>This 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.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>

<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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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

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An Economy that Works for East Tennesseeans

Making Government Represent the People

Healthcare Focused on People, not Profits

Investing in Tennessee's Workforce

<h3>Michaela Barnett is Fighting for East Tennessee</h3><h4>I will never sell you out for a handshake and a photo op.</h4>

Fighting for East Tn

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.

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

Host a house party to connect Michaela with new supporters, spark genuine conversations about East Tennessee’s future, and help raise the resources our campaign needs to reach voters.

House Party!

<h2 style="text-align: center"><a style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-primary)" href="https://calendar.app.google/JwAS1PHuta9HqJ4Y9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Schedule One Here!</a></h2>

Michaela Barnett for Tennessee-02

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We live in the richest country in the history of the world.So how is it possible that <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/2025-rise-americans-living-paycheck-2128753" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">67% of workers</a> are living paycheck to paycheck?The cost of living - from housing, groceries, healthcare - has skyrocketed, and 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.If we want every Tennessean to thrive, we have to pass policies that are pro-worker and pro-family.What does that mean in practice?<ul><li>Living wage jobs, including the right of every person to organize in their workplace, raising the minimum wage, and creating good jobs by investing in American manufacturing and innovation.</li><li>Affordable healthcare, including a universal healthcare option, capping the price of live-saving, prescription medications, banning surprise medical billing, expanding access to primary care and rural clinics, and more.</li><li>Making the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share by passing legislation that undoes tax cuts for the richest of the rich and puts more money in working class pockets.</li></ul>I've seen how the system works in Washington - and I know how to make it work for East Tennessee families.

44% of Tennessee households cannot afford the basics of housing, food, child care, transportation, and health care. Our state's GDP is on an upward trajectory - but that has not translated into benefits for East Tennessee workers and their families.

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An Economy That Works for All

Lanzamiento en Español (Spanish Language Meet & Greet)

Conoce a Michaela Barnett, postulandose por el Congreso, Districto 2.

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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

Blount County Kickoff

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

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Camp Cavalry Phone Bank

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.

Loudon County Meet the Candidates

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.East Tennessee is a place that values hard work, family, and fairness, and our immigration system should reflect that. We should have secure borders, fair and humane processing, and practical paths to citizenship and legal status for people who are here contributing to our communitiesOur immigration system should reflect those values: fair and humane processing, protection for Dreamers and essential workers, and a practical path to citizenship for people who play by the rules and contribute to our communities.President Trump's horrific immigration agenda is not helping the United States nor making our immigration system work better.Here are the policies I support to fix our broken immigration system:<ul><li>Instituting legislation to immediately claw back the OBBBA provisions that made ICE the 16th largest <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/immigration-ice-bill-trump-2093456">military force in the world </a>and <a href="https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/fact-sheet/big-beautiful-bill-immigration-border-security/">made our immigration system a pay-to-play system.</a></li><li>Legislation requiring immigration enforcement officers to clearly display name and agency identification during public-facing operations and prohibit identity-concealing masks.</li><li>Legislation that prohibits immigration enforcement activity at sensitive locations, including hospitals and medical care offices, schools, and places of worship.</li><li>Practical path to legal status: we should institute practical avenues for undocumented immigrants to obtain green cards and citizenship for those who pass background checks, pay taxes, and are contributing to our country.</li><li>Authorize emergency funding to hire immigration judges and support staff to address our years-long immigration case backlogs.</li><li>Ban deportations to third countries.</li><li>Expand and modernize temporary worker programs (H-2A/H-2B) with stronger labor protections, easier domestic hiring flexibility, and regional visa pathways for industries with documented shortages.</li><li>Increase refugee and humanitarian admissions and streamline family reunification processing so legal pathways are viable alternatives to dangerous migration.</li><li>Automatic work authorization for people with pending asylum applications to keep families employed and communities stable.</li><li>Strengthen workplace enforcement against employers who exploit undocumented workers while protecting workers’ rights to report abuses.</li><li>Invest in modern, humane processing centers at ports of entry and increase credible asylum officer capacity to process claims quickly and humanely.</li><li>Congressional oversight: I will use the Congressional oversight power of Congress to investigate corruption and misuse of power in our immigration system. DHS employees who commit abuses will be held accountable.</li><li>Fund English-language and civics programs through public schools and nonprofits so that immigrants to our country can fully participate in civic and economic life.</li><li>Expand workforce readiness programs that connect immigrants to high-demand jobs in East Tennessee so they can contribute their skills where we need them most.</li><li>Promote civic engagement: make ESL and citizenship classes widely accessible.</li></ul>

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Common Sense, Dignified Immigration

Education is the foundation for our future. It is how we open doors, inspire creativity, train problem-solvers, and shape tomorrow's leaders. Every child and young person in Tennessee deserves a chance to reach their full potential - yet right now, our schools are struggling. We are failing our students and our educators.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://edlawcenter.org/research/making-the-grade-2021-state-profiles/?utm_campaign=PR&amp;utm_medium=Referral&amp;utm_source=%7bBEP+Inadequate+Says+NPEF%7d">school funding per student that's 44th in the country</a>.What do we do about it?<ul><li>Use the same strategy that Republicans are using to recruit thousands of new employees to ICE - provide significant hiring and retention bonuses to teachers, federal student loan forgiveness, and strong retirement benefits. Teachers are shaping the next generation and they should be appropriately valued, compensated, and resourced. </li><li>Spend public dollars on public schools - East Tennessee families rely on strong public schools. Tax dollars should support the schools our communities already have with resources they need. </li><li>Invest in trade schools and vocational programs across high schools and community colleges so East Tennessee graduates are prepared for skilled trades. </li><li>Address the root causes of why college tuition has skyrocketed - including cuts in public funding and costly overhead - so that any proposals to cancel student debt aren't a short-term problem to a long-term solution. </li><li>Cap loan rates for student loans so students aren't paying for their education many times over and completely reinstate student loan forgiveness for public service. </li><li>Protect our colleges and universities from federal overreach, ICE threats, and attacks on free speech so that innovation and opportunity can continue to thrive on our campuses of higher education. </li></ul>

Invest in Education

Every person deserves the freedom to make decisions about if, when, and how to grow their family without interference from politicians. Doctors should not have to be afraid when providing medical care to their patients.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>. Ob-gyns are <a href="https://feminist.org/news/new-study-shows-abortion-bans-are-driving-doctors-out/">fleeing our state</a>, creating even more care shortages in rural and underserved areas. Medical providers report constant anxiety that they will be prosecuted for treating miscarriages or other emergencies in their pregnant patients.Reproductive freedom means more than access to birth control and abortion - it also means ensuring that people who want to have children can do so safely and can afford childcare and medical care.Here's how we put that into practice:<ul><li>Restore and protect the right to abortion care nationwide, so decisions stay with patients and their doctors, not politicians.</li><li>Defend access to contraception and fertility treatments like IVF, ensuring families have real choices in planning or growing their families.</li><li>Expand maternal health care and reduce maternal mortality, especially addressing racial disparities in pregnancy outcomes.</li><li>Guarantee paid family leave and affordable childcare, so parents don’t have to choose between financial security and having and raising children.</li></ul>

Reproductive Freedom

Camp Cavalry Phone Bank

Women's Equality Summit

Michaela will be speaking at the Women's Equality Summit and also moderating the a panel called: Building a Just Future: Women at the Forefront of Climate Justice. You can see the <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/o579dctcpyqzuk9f7srsf/AAxKaBrgRMpb55QW3VP27HM?e=2&amp;preview=Word+document+of+schedule.docx&amp;rlkey=cqrgji9jzmf7k4b9gu64i7g9k&amp;st=64dq6vjp&amp;dl=0">full agenda here</a> and register <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/womens-equality-summit-tickets-1227010143369?aff=oddtdtcreator">here</a>. Attendance is free!

Women's Equality Summit

Local Primary Campaign Kick-Off

Meet Democratic candidates running for office in the May 5th county primary. Join Democrats, members of the "pissed off coalition", Republicans who are so fed up with their party that they are now supporting Democrats, and concerned citizens at the Local Primary Campaign Kick-Off at Bridgewater Place.

Government exists to serve the people. And in our representative democracy, the people we elect should be in touch with the issues their constituents are facing. <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2014/01/10/261398205/majority-in-congress-are-millionaires">More than half of the members in Congress are millionaires</a>. More of Congress <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/06/05/us/politics/congress-age.html">is 70+ than ever before</a> (there are also 19 octogenarians and one 91-year old).At the same time, our current election system is broken. Campaign finance laws that benefit the wealthy, rampant gerrymandering, voter suppression tactics, and an electoral college that makes millions of people feel that their votes don't matter.What do we do about it?<ul><li>Establish term limits for Congress.</li><li>Set age limits for federal officials.</li><li>Campaign finance reform that undoes the impact of Citizens United and sets reasonable campaign spending limits so corporations and the ultra-rich can't buy our elections.</li><li>Abolish the electoral college.</li><li>Pass the <a href="https://fairvote.org/our-reforms/fair-representation-act/">Fair Representation Act</a>, which would ensure fair representation for all Americans, reduce polarization, and end partisan gerrymandering.</li><li>Automatically register every American citizen to vote.</li><li>Make Election Day a National Holiday.</li><li>Set nationwide standards for ID accessibility.</li></ul>

Our representative government doesn't reflect our country - and that's a problem. It is well past time that we enact stock-trading bans and term limits for members of Congress and fix our electoral system so that every vote counts.

A Government that Represents the People

Right now, queer Tennesseans are under attack. The Trump administration is rolling back protections, targeting transgender youth, and emboldening discrimination in every corner of our society. In East Tennessee, our LGBTQ+ neighbors are being told they don't deserve the basic rights and protections enshrined in our Constitution.Every person deserves equal protection under the law. Whether you're applying for a job, trying to rent an apartment, eating at a restaurant, or enrolling your kids in school, you shouldn't face discrimination because of who you are or who you love.<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/15">The Equality Act </a>would fix this by extending the same civil rights protections we already have for race and religion to include sexual orientation and gender identity. This isn't about special rights - it's about equal rights.Here's what real equality looks like:<ul><li>Ending discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations so LGBTQ+ people can work, live, and participate in their communities without fear.</li><li>Protecting LGBTQ+ students in schools and ensuring they have safe, supportive learning environments free from harassment and discrimination.</li><li>Banning the harmful practice of conversion therapy that causes documented psychological harm to LGBTQ+ youth and undermines their sense of self-worth.</li><li>Ensuring equal access to adoption and foster care services so LGBTQ+ families can provide loving homes to children who need them - expanding options for kids in the system, not limiting them.</li><li>Guaranteed equal access to credit and financial services so sexual orientation and gender identity can't be used to deny mortgages, loans, or basic banking services.</li></ul>I’m fighting for everyone to have the same opportunities to build careers, raise families, and contribute to their communities that everyone deserves. We're all stronger when everyone can show up as their full selves.

LGBTQIA+ Rights

Demystifying the government shutdown, combatting misinformation with facts, and connecting the community with resources to fill the gaps. Rep. Tim Burchett has been invited, questions will be <a href="https://forms.gle/bNVRUC1eSV4pb2s19" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">taken via Google form</a> and from the audience, and resource organizations will have representatives and literature on hand to help constituents.

TN-02 Town Hall on the Federal Government Shutdown

Do you have questions about the government shutdown? Are you in need of resources like groceries or help with utilities or rent? Rep. Tim Burchett has been invited, questions will be <a href="https://forms.gle/bNVRUC1eSV4pb2s19" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">taken via Google form</a> and from the audience, and resource organizations will have representatives and literature on hand to help constituents.

Government Shutdown Town Hall

We're living through an AI revolution that could reshape our entire economy - but right now, it's happening without any guardrails. Estimates show that <a href="https://www.nexford.edu/insights/how-will-ai-affect-jobs">AI could automate up to 30% of jobs in the next five years</a>, and that's not some distant future problem - it's happening now. Meanwhile, the companies building these technologies are getting richer than ever while working families face an uncertain future.AI data centers generate significant greenhouse gas emissions and consume massive amounts of electricity and water that strain our power grids and environment. At the same time, a handful of tech billionaires are using AI to amass unprecedented wealth while everyone else worries about losing their jobs.Here's how we responsibly regulate AI:<ul><li>Protect workers with retraining programs and transition support for those whose jobs are displaced, plus strong unemployment benefits and job placement assistance during the AI transition. </li><li>Tax AI wealth appropriately with a progressive wealth tax on tech billionaires who are profiting from automation while workers lose their livelihoods. </li><li>Mandate environmental standards for AI data centers including renewable energy requirements and limits on water consumption to prevent further strain on our climate and communities. </li><li>Break up Big Tech monopolies so AI development isn't controlled by a few giant corporations that put profits over people and innovation.</li><li>Invest AI profits in public goods like education, infrastructure, and healthcare - if AI makes society more productive, society should benefit, not just shareholders. </li></ul>AI isn't inherently good or bad - it's a tool. The question is whether we'll let a few tech executives use it to get even richer while everyone else gets left behind, or whether we'll make sure this technology actually improves life for working families across East Tennessee and America.

Regulate AI

House Party at CommonPlace Coffee &amp; Community

Join Tony Murchison and other hosts for an open-to-the public house party! House parties are a great way to get to know Michaela, ask questions, and raise the resources we need to run this campaign. Want to host one yourself? Email Amelia Bartlett at <a href="mailto:elect@michaelafortn.com">elect@michaelafortn.com</a> to set one up.

House Party at CommonPlace Coffee

Progressive Speed Dating

Join us and Knox Social Club for a fun event, open to progressive singles aged 21 - 40 (future speed dating events will include additional age ranges!) Come build community, find romance, and support our campaign! Proceeds raised will go directly to fuel our movement to flip our district blue.

Grainger County Meet and Greet

Come on out and enjoy some breakfast and conversation.

We are facing a healthcare crisis in our country that will only get worse. We spend more on healthcare per person than any other developed nation and we have poorer outcomes. 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.The One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed in July 2025 will kick millions off their healthcare and put rural hospitals at risk of closure or loss of services, including <a href="https://www.wate.com/news/tennessee/researchers-concerned-9-hospitals-in-tn-could-close-due-to-potential-medicaid-cuts/">9 Tennessee hospitals</a>.What do we do to fix this?<ul><li>Create a universal healthcare option so that every American has access to affordable healthcare.</li><li>Cap the price life-saving, prescription medications.</li><li>Ban surprise medical billing.</li><li>Train and support more doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals so everyone can access quality care.</li><li>Fund local healthcare prevention efforts focused on low-cost, high-impact strategies, such as disease screening and immunizations.</li><li>Expand telehealth access so care is more accessible.</li><li>Expand evidence-based treatment and support for addiction.</li></ul>

Healthcare Focused on People, Not Profits

Knox Young Dems Launch

Join us for the official launch of Knox Young Dems! We’re excited to join for an exciting evening joined by Michaela, Rep. Justin Pearson, Rep. Aftyn Behn, and local leaders as we build the movement for change in East Tennessee.

East Tennessee is one of the most beautiful places in the United States.The mountains, rivers, and farmland in our backyard are treasures we must protect. But corporate polluters too often put profits over people, leaving our communities to deal with dirty air, contaminated water, and the economic fallout of climate change.The Trump administration has gutted the EPA, rolled back commonsense environmental rules, and is giving polluters a blank check. We don't have to choose between a clean, healthy environment and an economy that works for the American people - that's a binary that only serves corporate profits, not people.In Congress, I’ll fight for a clean, just future that creates jobs, lowers costs, and protects the land and environment we love.Here are the policies I'll work to enact in Congress:<ul><li>Ambitious but achievable federal clean energy targets, ensuring power plants, vehicles, and industries steadily cut emissions.</li><li>Investing in Appalachia’s clean energy future by expanding federal grants and tax credits for solar, wind, battery storage, and advanced nuclear in East Tennessee.</li><li>Support incentives expanded public transit that works for East Tennesseans.</li><li>Ensure workers in transitioning industries can access retraining, pensions, and wage support as the economy shifts.</li><li>Tie federal clean energy investments to good union jobs, apprenticeships, and contracts for local businesses.</li><li>Expand incentives for domestic production of clean energy technologies to create jobs in Tennessee.</li><li>Require corporations to take responsibility for the full lifecycle of their products and shift waste management costs from municipal budgets back to the corporations creating the waste in the first place through extended producer responsibility.</li></ul><h3></h3>

Protect Our Environment

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Knox County Kickoff

Please see the <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YzuwN10Y4goa1jBGzQXdNfwrlzzEuNya/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Parking Map and plan ahead</a>. If possible, carpool, bike, or take public transit to conserve available spaces! And, please reserve closer spots (Printshop parking lot) for accessibility!

Dozens of people attended a government shutdown town hall in Knoxville on Wednesday night. The event was hosted by Democrat Michaela Barnett, who is running for Republican Representative Tim Burchett's congressional seat.&nbsp;

Rep. Tim Burchett declines to attend a government shutdown town hall he was invited to in Knoxville

We're facing a housing crisis. The United States has a <a href="https://investors.zillowgroup.com/investors/news-and-events/news/news-details/2025/US-housing-deficit-grew-to-4-7-million-despite-construction-surge/default.aspx">4.7 million housing unit shortage</a>, and families in East Tennessee are being priced out of their hometowns. Young people can't afford to buy their first home, seniors are losing their housing, and working families are spending more than half their income on rent.Meanwhile, private equity firms are swooping in to buy up entire neighborhoods, treating homes like stock portfolios instead of places where families build their lives. Add to that Trump's mass deportation agenda that has decimated our construction workforce and his trade wars that have made building materials more expensive - making an already bad housing shortage even worse.Here's how we fix the housing crisis:<ul><li>Get private equity out of the housing market by capping how many residential units corporate entities can own and closing loopholes that allow mass acquisition of single-family homes.</li><li>Reduce bureaucratic barriers to construction by incentivizing local governments to streamline permitting and zoning processes for affordable housing projects.</li><li>Expand the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program to build more affordable units and ensure working families have housing options they can actually afford.</li><li>Protect family farms from corporate takeover while ensuring smart land use policies that balance agricultural preservation with housing development where it makes sense.</li><li>Rebuild our construction workforce by supporting immigration policies that meet our labor needs and investing in trades training programs.</li></ul>Housing is a human right, not a commodity for Wall Street to manipulate. When families have stable, affordable housing, entire communities thrive.

Affordable Housing for All

No parent should have to fear that their children will die from gun violence. <a href="https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2024/guns-remain-leading-cause-of-death-for-children-and-teens">Yet firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teenagers. </a>These tragedies tear families and communities apart - and we can do something about it.&nbsp;We look forward to having listening sessions and round tables with gun owners in East Tennessee and gun safety experts to put forth evidence-based policies to solve this crisis in our communities.

Responsible Gun Ownership

Fresh off a surprising showing in Middle Tennessee, Democrats in East Tennessee say they're determined to build on the momentum created when Aftyn Behn cut Republicans' margin in a district carefully crafted to be an unassailable GOP citadel.

East Tennessee Democrats hope to build on special election momentum

Karaoke with Michaela 

Sing your heart out and support the campaign! Join us for karaoke night with Michaela - VIP ticket holders get an exclusive pre-event session, then stick around for open karaoke where everyone's invited to join the fun.

After a lifetime of hard work, every person deserves to retire with security and peace of mind.Right now, we have seniors choosing between groceries and prescription medications. We have 75-year-olds working at grocery stores not because they want to stay busy, but because they can't afford to live on Social Security alone.No person over the age of 70 should have to work just to survive. Our seniors helped shape this country, paid taxes, and contributed to Social Security their entire working lives. They've earned the right to age with dignity.Here's what aging with dignity looks like:<ul><li>Expanding and investing more in Social Security so benefits actually cover the cost of living, and fighting back against any effort to privatize it. This isn't charity - it's honoring the promise we made to workers who paid into the system.</li><li>Lowering prescription drug prices by allowing Medicare to negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies and capping out-of-pocket costs.</li><li>Protecting Medicare from privatization schemes that put profits over patients.</li><li>Increasing funding for senior services including meal programs, transportation, and home healthcare.</li></ul>Growing old shouldn't mean growing poor. With the right policies, all seniors can age with dignity in East Tennessee.&nbsp;

Age with Dignity

The United States should have abundant, good jobs that contribute to our society, economy, and create financial stability for workers. In TN-02, we have a culture of entrepreneurship, with businesses large and small innovating and serving our community.We should be leading the way, not falling behind.But that's not what's happening. <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 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>.Michaela will invest in East Tennessee’s workforce, which includes creating high-quality jobs in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, healthcare, and technology. It also means supporting small business owners, including farmers, by providing the resources and help they need to thrive and pushing back against shortsighted policies harm them.In Congress, Michaela will work to:<ul><li>Ensure that all Tennesseans the right to unionize, including federal workers.</li><li>Implement commonsense, pro-worker labor regulations.</li><li>Invest in community workforce training.</li><li>Expand national service programs.</li><li>Invest in East Tennessee manufacturing and innovation.</li></ul>

Invest in Tennessee's Workforce

Right now, the Trump administration is gutting the VA - privatizing services, cutting staff, and closing facilities while our veterans struggle with higher rates of suicide and untreated mental health issues.When our service members come home, too many face an uphill battle. They're dealing with PTSD, physical injuries, and the challenge of translating military skills into civilian careers - often without the support system they need.&nbsp;Meanwhile, we keep sending young Americans to fight endless foreign wars that don't make us safer. Our Tennessee Volunteers are not expendable.We shouldn't put our soldiers in harm's way without a clear mission and exit strategy, and we owe them comprehensive support when they return.Here's what real support for veterans looks like:<ul><li>Expand the VA, don't privatize it. Our veterans deserve specialized care from providers who understand military service and combat trauma.</li><li>Guarantee every veteran access to good-paying federal employment with hiring preferences that actually work and career advancement opportunities.</li><li>Fully fund mental health support and suicide prevention programs.</li><li>Ensure comprehensive healthcare coverage including dental, vision, and mental health services.</li><li>End America's endless foreign wars and stop sending our young people to fight conflicts without clear objectives.</li></ul>Our veterans kept their promise to serve our country. It's time we kept our promise to serve them.

Serve Those Who Have Served Us

I'm running because East Tennesseans deserve better. Let's put hope to work. 

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