Article by Farrah Renfroe, TPT Staff Writer

On March 27, 2023, the Nashville community mourned after the mass shooting at The Covenant School, a Presbyterian Church in the Green Hills neighborhood. 28-year-old Aiden Hale, a former student of the school, killed three nine‑year‑old children and three adults before being shot and killed by two Metropolitan Nashville Police officers. In the immediate aftermath of this tragedy, young people from across the state took to the streets to demand gun safety legislation be passed. Amid these demonstrations, what we now know as ‘The Tennessee Three’ forced the Tennessee House into a standstill. Reps Justin J Pearson, Gloria Johnson, and Justin Jones took control of the well and stood with protestors to pressure their colleagues to pass substantial gun safety legislation. Over a couple of months, Reps Pearson and Jones got expelled from the House and eventually reelected in a special election. These events led to the national media eying out the Tennessee legislature. 'The Tennessee Three' aside, who are the key people and rising stars within the Tennessee Democratic Party?

1) Senator London Lamar (D-Memphis)

Image Credit: X/@SenatorLamar
Senator London Lamar has been a leader in the Democratic Party for years. Before being elected to the legislature, she was a pioneer in starting and building up the Shelby County Young Democrats and Tennessee Young Democrats. She even started Gen Next PAC, a political action committee, for Memphians, ages 45 and under, to develop and provide financial training, support, and additional resources for young leaders seeking to serve in leadership roles to ensure the local community works for the current and next generation. She was elected to represent House District 91 in 2018. In 2022, she was appointed to represent Senate District 33 after Democrat Katrina Robinson was expelled due to her indictment on charges of wire fraud. Senator Lamar is currently the youngest female and African American legislator in Tennessee State Senate History.

2) Representative Aftyn Behn (D-Nashville)

Image Credit: Campaign Photo
Aftyn Behn is a first term Representative whose district covers part of Nashville. In 2023, after the death of State Representative Bill Beck, she campaigned to fill his seat. In the primary, she won 53.5% of the vote, beating Anthony Davis, who was appointed to the seat. She later won 75.6% in the general election. Being dubbed “the AOC of Tennessee,” she is the youngest woman ever sworn in the House. In her tenure as State Representative so far, Rep Behn has been unapologetic progressive. So far in the legislature, she has been a fierce leader in the campaign to eliminate the grocery tax and has hosted regular town halls in her district.

3) Alison Beale- Candidate for TN House District 45

Image Credit: Campaign Photo
Alison Beale is a mom, former teacher, advocate, and candidate for House District 45 (part of Sumner County). Over the last several years, Alison has worked as a gun violence prevention advocate with the Akilah Dasilva Foundation, created to honor the life of Akilah Dasilva, who was murdered in the Antioch, TN Waffle House mass shooting on April 22, 2018. Alison is no stranger to being in space with families who have been affected by gun violence. In this era of active shooter drills, Alison knows how guns are affecting students and people in all communities. Her campaign is centered around building a safe, inclusive, and engaged Tennessee.

4) Luis Mata-Candidate for TN House District 49

Luis Mata is a Mexican immigrant and community advocate running for Tennessee House District 49, part of Rutherford County. Twenty years ago, he came to the States with his mother so they could have a better life. Being raised by a single mother, Luis knows how to work hard and how to persevere. He attended public schools, where he experienced how working people, people of color, and immigrants are marginalized and left behind in our society. He became involved in his community when unfair state laws tried to prevent him from getting higher education before becoming a US citizen. Luis worked three jobs to put himself through college. He spent his collegiate career being involved on campus and in community groups and organizing student campaigns for immigrant rights, racial justice, and fighting back against unjust state laws. During his time at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, he co-founded Students for Migrant Justice, a student organization that serves as a political home for immigrant students in Knoxville. He was awarded the prestigious Beacon of Change award, the highest student award conferred by students, for his commitment to creating change and fighting for justice. After graduation, he became Policy Coordinator for the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC), advancing and protecting immigrant and refugee rights at the local, state, and national levels.

5) Senator Charlane Oliver (D-19)

The Future of Democrats in Tennessee: Who are the young people running and getting elected?