Gov. Newsom to Address Tennessee Democrats, Honor ‘Tennessee Three’

Governor Gavin Newsom speaks to reporters at AltaMed Urgent Care in Santa Ana, Calif., on March 25, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

After gaining national attention earlier this year because of laws passed regarding drag shows, transgender procedures and medication for minors, and a school shooting and ensuing push for gun control, Tennessee Democrats have seen the spotlight more than they typically do in a deep red state.

Three lawmakers, in particular, were thrust into the national conversation and became Democratic heroes of sorts, given the moniker the “Tennessee Three” after two members were ousted from the state’s House of Representatives and a third spared by one vote.

Their colleagues in the state House called the ouster votes for the three after they interrupted official business on the state floor, joining in with protestors in the state capitol to call for gun control following the deadly shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville in March.

The state party plans to highlight the three at their annual “Three Star Dinner” in Nashville later this month, with the main honor of highlighting the three going to California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The Saturday, August 26 fundraising event will take place just days after the Tennessee General Assembly is scheduled to convene in Nashville in a special session called by Republican Gov. Bill Lee to address public safety.

Newsom Gets Southern Spotlight

Newsom, a Democrat, will deliver the keynote address to the state party this year, on the heels of presidential candidate and Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis addressing roughly 1,850 attendees at the state GOP’s dinner earlier this month.

“Tennessee was thrust into the national spotlight this year, and we are using this opportunity to continue building momentum ahead of the 2024 election cycle,” state party chair Hendrell Remus said in a statement announcing the guest speaker. “Governor Newsom’s presence will be a breath of fresh air for Democrats in our state.”

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Earlier this year, Newsom embarked on a national tour of red states, including other southern states bordering Tennessee. In Alabama, he criticized the state’s GOP for “rolling back progress,” according to Al.com.

Newsom has also spurred with Gov. Lee on Twitter, claiming Tennessee is a much more dangerous state than California and criticizing the policies of the GOP-supermajority-led state.

Newsom will be joined by Democratic Shelby County (Memphis) Mayor Lee Harris and Nashville mayoral candidate Freddie O’Connell, who advanced to a runoff alongside a conservative candidate in recent elections.

‘Tennessee Three’ Honored

The “Tennessee Three” as they are colloquially known made their way to the well of the House chamber, taking the speaker’s podium at one point to demand their colleagues take up the issue of gun control.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris meet with Tennessee state representatives, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, who faced expulsion over their participation in gun control protests, and Gloria Johnson, who retained her seat, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, on April 24, 2023. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

The incident led to their invites to the likes of the White House in a meeting with President Biden as well as the White House Correspondents Dinner and a primetime interview on Good Morning America.

The two ousted members, Justin Jones of Nashville and Justin Pearson of Memphis, were reelected to their seats officially last week to fill the remainder of their term they were originally elected to in 2022.

The third member, Gloria Johnson of Knoxville, is rumored to be heading up a challenge to incumbent U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn next year, according to Politico and other outlets.

Tennessee a New Focus for Democrats

While Tennessee has not had a Democratic governor since 2011, the recent events in the state have put it at a focus of national Democrats as an opportunity to build support for the party in typically red states.

Democrats last had a major focus on Tennessee during the 2018 elections, where now-Sen. Blackburn was challenged by former two-term Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen.

Bredesen, who won all 95 of the state’s counties in his 2006 re-election, was easily defeated by Blackburn despite the optimism and polling showing him having a narrow chance to victory in the state once again.

Johnson could garner similar support from national Democrats in terms of fundraising, but any attempt by a Democrat to win a statewide election in Tennessee is an uphill battle.

GOP Leader Mocks Choice of Newsom

While state Democrats applauded the choice of Newsom as this year’s speaker, their colleagues across the aisle mocked the idea.

Tennessee’s Republican Caucus Chairman, Jeremy Faison, questioned on X, formerly Twitter, whether those who moved to Tennessee from California would be in attendance.

“Reckon all the refugees in TN from CA will show up to celebrate the Marxist leader that drove them out,” he tweeted. “Doubt it. Imagine being the leader of a state that’s lost millions of citizens because their policies have failed so badly.”