SINE DIE
Keep a true fighter in the State Senate
The 113th Tennessee General Assembly has officially adjourned sine die. It’s easy to lament profusely on how awful the Republican supermajority is - and I’ll get to that. But I’d like to start with the good work I’ve accomplished this year.
Every day I walk into the Capitol, I have five strikes immediately working against me. I’m young. I’m Black. I’m a woman. I’m a freshman legislator. And I’m in the minority party.
Despite these odds stacked against me, I passed five pieces of legislation, including a bill that will help Nashville build and preserve more affordable housing. I fought for an agenda that centers everyday people and working families whether it was repealing the grocery tax, expanding universal Pre-K, or advocating for affordable and accessible child care.
My fighting leadership matters and I need your help to keep me in the Senate.
We were successful in striking down harmful legislation that we must celebrate as a win for the People. You sent me to the Hill to kill Governor Lee’s signature school voucher scheme, and we did it! Thanks to the collective efforts of educators, parents, school boards, local governments, advocates, students, and labor organizations who stood up to send a resounding message that public schools matter.
I stood up against attacks on Tennessee State University, defended immigrants and marginalized groups, and spoke out against corporate greed and arming teachers. We defeated the anti-LGBTQ+ flag bill, the anti-reparations bill, saved Tennessee’s wetlands from developers, and was the deciding NO vote to kill Governor Lee’s signature $25M conservation easements proposal.
Overall, the Republican supermajority failed to deliver for Tennesseans once again. They ignored the loud cries of grieving mothers and struggling working families; all they managed to produce was a historic $1.6 BILLION tax giveaway to out-of-state corporations, a bill to arm teachers, and tough-on-crime laws to incarcerate Memphis youth.
Our democracy is still being attacked under their authoritarian regime. I have received death threats, while being bullied with threats to kill all my legislation for speaking truth to power at a Caucus press conference. They’re silencing my colleagues and constituents, even using state troopers to remove dissenting voices from the chambers.
In this major election year, I won’t back down from the fight ahead to protect women, vulnerable children, and those without a voice. We are quite literally in the fight for our lives.
Young outspoken legislators like me have become targets for the right, so I need your support to keep me in the Senate to fight for you and grow our fierce progressive group of fighters. Will you make a contribution today to support my fight and stand in solidarity with millions of Tennesseans who are fed up with being silenced?
With your help, we will restore power back to the People.
In Solidarity,
Senator Charlane Oliver
