The 2024 election cycle is in full swing as Williamson County Republicans and Democrats vie for votes (and money) in what is being described as a "consequential" and potentially historic political moment.
On May 9, the Republican Women of Williamson County held its traditional Just Desserts fundraiser at Franklin's Old Natchez Country Club.
The event drew more than 100 voters and candidates, including U.S. Rep Andy Ogles (R-Columbia) and his Republican challenger Courtney Johnston, state House District 65 candidates Brian Beathard and Michelle Foreman, and sitting District 61 state Rep. Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood), as well as other party leaders including Williamson County GOP Chairman Tracy Miller.
The event saw the auctioning off of baked goods from candidates and raised more than $8,000 for the party. The GOP has held other events, including a recent forum with District 65 House candidates.
“This party and these people are more engaged than ever before,” Miller told The News, adding that the county GOP had tripled its funds since he was elected to the lead the party just over one year ago.
“When things are going so wrong nationally, and internationally for that matter, it makes what we do in our state, and our county, critical,” Miller said.
“I encourage everyone to help all our Republican candidates—give to their campaigns, educate yourselves and your neighbors about where they truly stand on the issues, knock on doors, send emails, host coffees, or put up signs. Brave people have stepped forward to run, let’s help them to sprint across the finish line.”
The importance of this year’s election is one thing that both parties agree on, with Democrats (and many Americans, in general) arguing that “democracy is on the ballot," a claim also made by former President Donald Trump when he spoke in Nashville earlier this year.
A Republican supporter sports a "Free Trump" pin and a GOP necklace during the May 9, 2024, 'Just Desserts' Williamson County GOP fundraiser in Franklin.
On Thursday, U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) called the 2024 election “the most consequential election, certainly of our lifetimes, probably, and maybe of the last century or more in America.”
The ongoing and evolving historic moment was most recently highlighted by the May 30 criminal conviction of former President Trump and the subsequent threats from Trump and his loyalists to enact revenge through the power of the presidency.
Just over one week before Trump's conviction, Williamson County Democrats rallied voters at Franklin's Fieldstone Park as part of their state-wide 2024 Campaign Kickoff Tour featuring a traveling yellow school bus.
The May 21 event drew dozens of voters and candidates and was hosted by the Williamson County Democratic Party. Featured guests included sitting District 20 state Sen. Heidi Campbell (D-Nashville) and District 56 state Rep. Bob Freeman (D-Nashville).
Freeman is the son of Bill Freeman, the owner of The News' parent company FW Publishing.
District 20 state Sen. Heidi Campbell (far left) speaks on May 21, 2024, during a Williamson County Democratic Party event at Franklin's Fieldstone Park.
“Sometimes we love being in bubbles; we love being around people who think like we do, but you know what? We are dead last for voter turnout,” Campbell told the crowd. “We're dead last, and if we raised voter turnout by 10 percent, we could turn this state blue. So let's talk to people who we don't normally talk to. We're raised not to talk about politics and religion. Let's talk about politics and religion.”
A slew of local Democratic candidates also spoke including District 61 state House candidates Claire Jones and Kurt Kosack, District 92 state House candidate Teri Mai, District 64 state House candidate Alex Pierce and District 28 state Sen. candidate James Dallas.
On June 5, the WCDP also held a meet and greet with their endorsed school board candidates.
“Most people in Tennessee do not know this is happening, and we need to tell them that their vote matters because it does,” Campbell said. “I know people who have lost by two votes; their vote matters.”