Retired special ed teacher & State Rep for Knoxville running for US Senate. She/her. Black Lives Matter. Always standing TALL for TN. Text GLORIA to 23299
I should be sleeping but still awake as I can’t help thinking that we have elected officials in Congress who think when we convert to solar power, we don’t have electricity after the sun goes down, so we have to go to bed. This scares me.
Guess she means when I was a kid in Jackson, MS & the KKK blew up a synagogue near my house & my dad & his partner arrested 3 of the KKK racists who did it & we had to move out of our home until they rounded up the other KKK a$$hats as they threatened to kill our entire family?
I was diagnosed w/ an aortic aneurysm while pregnant. If it burst, it would have killed me and the fetus. My abortion saved my life. Today, that procedure is illegal in Tennessee.
Abortion saves lives — it saved mine.
When I got home this weekend someone asked how things are going in Nashville, I’m not sure they were ready for my answer, but it went kind of like this…
I just had a visit from the head of HR and the House ethics lawyer, I appreciate them letting me know that if I am expelled, I will lose my health benefits. I also appreciate the ethics lawyer, letting me know that in one case, a member who was potentially up for expulsion
Did you ever imagine TN would give more rights to a violent rapist than a victim of a violent rapist. He can choose the mother of his child, but she can’t choose not to have her rapist’s baby. That is pure evil folks. That is today’s GOP, they don’t believe women are equal.
Earlier, I spoke to Reps Jones, Pearson, and Johnson to thank them for their leadership and courage in the face of a blatant disregard of our nation’s democratic values.
Our country needs to take action on gun violence — to do that we need more voices like theirs speaking out.
🚨I want to ask everyone coming tomorrow that if you go in the gallery, please be silent. I think they want you to act out so they can call for you and the press to be removed. We need witnesses to what is taking place in the TN legislature. We need you to be silent witnesses.
So this is a thing. I’m so happy we had the opportunity to talk about the gun violence problem on a national stage. We must act now. These young people (and their parents) want us to act now to save lives!
🚨The GOP supermajority came out with their 1st piece of legislation the day after election. The bill that was burning their fingers it was so important to TN families. Did they expand Medicaid? Address inflation? Solve the DCS crisis? No, they made
#DragShows
a felony.
#NoHate
The speaker has refused to call on me on every single bill that has anything to do with education or diversity or the LGBT community. This is not Democracy.
No one loves you like your mother and I had one of the absolute best moms a person could ask for. Nell Johnson, my mom, died this morning after a 90-year life filled with love, generosity and great cheer.
I'll miss our long talks, our day trips, Sundays at her petting zoo, and…
Oh y’all, the speaker is shook. He is definitely losing control and making crazy accusations…keep up the pressure. They have lost the message and have been seen, once again, as they truly are.
It’s interesting that there appear to be Republicans on the floor right now breaking rules by video recording on the house floor while in session.
#justsaying
Y’all won’t believe this but Marsha Blackburn was on my flight tonight. I thought, why not say hello? So I waited for her at the top of the jetway and introduced myself and said hello.
I pissed off Cameron Sexton so much that he tried to put my desk in a closet.
I don't care who I have to piss off — or where I have to sit — to deliver for Tennessee.
The maga republicans are voting for a bill to allow anyone to show up at a school with a gun if they are ex military to “protect” the school, they do not have to identify themselves to the school. Are you kidding me?! Every GOP voted yes while Covenant families begged them not to
Since I launched my campaign for U.S. Senate in Tennessee, we've already grown by over 10,000 followers. There's a movement afoot, let's keep it going. Share, follow, and support the campaign y'all.
Gloria Johnson is a radical socialist who would work to destroy our Tennessee values in the United States Senate.
She supports late-term abortion, child mutilation, and gun confiscation. We must ensure she does not win
#TNSen
.
I am
#TeamMarsha
!
@VoteMarsha
…
Just had HB1735 on the floor. It allows 18 year olds to carry guns. It’s interesting to see these folks argue how reasoned and prepared 18 year olds are to carry guns yet they also say they aren’t capable of discussing “divisive issues” or reading books that say “gay” or “damn.”
When
@peterframpton
shows up at one of your campaign events, so much for playing it cool. Such an honor to have the support of one of my all time faves!
Just going to repost these videos from the protest that happened the day the 3 of us walked to the well from my desk. Don’t believe the lies about violence that day. As the TN Highway Patrol said, there were no incidents, arrests, or damage.
If a parent wants to send their kid to a private school, they can — that's your right.
But the state shouldn't defund other kids' education just to give out coupons. Vouchers are a scam.
We have a “Don’t Say Gay” bill worse than Florida’s and about 4 more bills to go along with it-all equally filled with hate. GOP and B list celebrities are accusing librarians and teachers of “grooming” kids.
We have a vigilante abortion bill worse than Texas’. A bill that makes your friends and family $10k if they rat you out. Heck, if you decide to abort your rapists baby, his family and friends can sue you for $10k.
When you get off the plane with the legendary Joan Baez you know it’s a movement of the spirit. She stands with us in our struggle in Tennessee and said she’s hopeful to see young voices leading.
“WE SHALL OVERCOME…”
Serendipitous, indeed.
Oh my God. Republican leadership in Nashville threatened to strip Memphis of funding if they re-appointed Justin Jones and Justin Pearson to the legislature following their expulsion.
This is literally extortion.
The p-boys were back again today. I’m pretty sure we can go ahead and call this stalking now.
They kept following me to the restroom, weird, huh. The troopers were pretty fed up. Grieving parents can’t have notebook paper signs, but are these guys armed?
Inclusivity, you gotta love a place that respects the human dignity of everyone who enters. Thanks for being kind and welcoming to those who love all their neighbors, Garth Brooks!
Me: We need common sense gun laws.
Maga trolls: “Your fat.”
Me: We need to invest in public schools.
Maga trolls: “Groomer.”
Me: We need to expand Medicaid.
Maga trolls: “Your fat.”
Me: We need Paid Family Leave for TN families.
Maga trolls: “Cry more.”
Good talk guys🙄🤡🤡🤡
That’s so strange, because most of the bills you support have been deemed unconstitutional in TN due to the fact they remove personal freedoms, perhaps you are confused?
Then there is
@GovBillLee
State BOE appointee with no public school experience, even evidence he is hostile to public schools. He’s in a lawsuit now as his company sold ammunition to an underage school shooter responsible for the 6th largest school shooting in the country.
You would think I asked her to rob a bank! Has she ever taken a selfie before?
Hey y’all, for the record, if you ever approach me in the airport like a normal person, I pledge to treat you like a human too.
Last week Marsha Blackburn walked out of the Judiciary Committee in protest of subpoenaing Harlan Crow, the GOP mega-donor banking rolling Justice Thomas.
Why? Because Crow funds Marsha Blackburn too. Tennesseans deserve a Senator who will serve our democracy, not her donors.
Really concerning to me that an anti-mask group just met saying they need to bring Knox County Schools to a halt (to applause) and asked folks to block the entrances to schools with their cars-including not letting school buses in. This is not a group that cares about kids.
GOP who have left the party have told me it’s because of the meanness. We see it every day in how they govern. While they bring bills making TN tougher for kids, women, black & brown people, teachers, librarians, and LGBTQ folks-they are licking boots of lobbyists & billionaires.
All signs point to more indictments coming, but all those likely to go down are taken in to the GOP fold. Criming in the GOP makes you leadership it seems. Yet they stand on the floor puffing out their chests screaming at Dems for saying mean things.❄️❄️
A week after six people were slaughtered in a Tennessee school shooting, House Republicans are taking action.
Not to stop gun violence.
But to silence voices who are calling for reform. We will not be silent.
#TennesseeThree
Looks like we just threw Gov. Lee’s entire voucher scam in the trash. Thank you to all the parents, students, teachers, superintendents, and concerned Tennesseans all over the state who stood up, spoke out, and defended our public schools from being dismantled and defunded.
Here is why there is hope, the Democrats care about all Tennesseans. They care about equality, equity, justice, fairness, and we are fighting for it! We are fighting for you, and here is some of the legislation we have brought this session.
I am a citizen-legislator, a former teacher, and I’ve been set up to be cross-examined by a trained litigator as they deny me counsel. It will be interesting to see if the 3/4 majority GOP house will allow me counsel.
Well, the proud boys are here in their dollar general colors. I asked if they were so proud, why were they wearing masks? They didn’t have an answer…one said COVID, but I’m doubting the seriousness of that claim. I think I’ll just call them boys from here on out.🙄
You might think that would be it, but we just had a GOP Sen indicted for campaign finance & a Rep indicted for wire fraud-they both resigned. 1 said for “exciting family news”(that’s 1 way to put it.) The other because she was a Christian(a Christian would say no to the felony.)
Tonight on the floor was difficult. I’ll talk more about that later, but a man on the floor actually said, out loud, to the body, that they would do everything they could to protect the fetus. As an afterward, he said they would do what they could for pregnant women-no promises.
We have a school funding formula that’s not ready for prime time. It takes away local control, doesn’t have details and is more than 50% rule making we won’t see until AFTER the vote. And counties will love the property tax it will inevitably bring in 3-4 years😬.
#whenleeisgone
I am so humbled by these amazingly talented folks coming together to bring a voice to the voiceless and bring more people in to this movement of justice!
An all-star cast of singers, including Maren Morris, Brandi Carlile, Emmylou Harris, and Brittany Howard, recorded a song endorsing Gloria Johnson's campaign to unseat Republican Tennessee senator Marsha Blackburn.
More:
My heart is so happy, this letter from an 11 year old girl was in my mailbox, and I will do as she asked by getting these other letters to
@brotherjones_
and
@Justinjpearson
. I think we will send her a signed poster as well! We need to listen to the children.
You mean the border that you voted against securing — even though it gave Republicans pretty much everything they asked for — just so Trump will shine a little favor on you?
About 1/4 of the room in Civil Justice Committee broke a rule and clapped in committee. The chairman made everyone leave, including the Covenant moms who are now in the hall crying. I know at least a few media folks were also kicked out. This is what fascism looks like.
Looks like we’re going to visit the whole voucher scandal again and see just who all was involved…I’m pretty sure I know a few of them and they all need to be held accountable. Buying votes that result in hurting our kids is truly evil.
What happened in Tennessee is the latest example of a broader erosion of civility and democratic norms. Silencing those who disagree with us is a sign of weakness, not strength, and it won’t lead to progress.
Today, I stood with parents, students, and the Tennessee Three.
They won't be silenced and their demands for gun reform must be heard.
In Congress and in state legislatures around our nation, leaders must have the courage to act.
Wow —
@katzonearth
busts Senator Katie Britt on the sex trafficking anecdote she used in her rebuttal, revealing (courtesy of
@MarshaBlackburn
’s site) it happened to the woman she referred to 20 years ago, in Mexico
Needless to say, Joe Biden was not president of Mexico in 2004
Just now Rep Cepicky and Rep Fritts refused to let me leave the chambers. I asked multiple times, loudly, and they refused to move so I could get out of the chambers.
#BulliesAndThugs
BREAKING
Tennessee House Speaker
@CSexton25
secretly bought a 600K home in Nashville
He went to extensive efforts to shield the purchase from the public
It raises serious Qs about whether Sexton legally represents his district and whether he is misusing taxpayer funds
🧵
More money for teachers and other school salaries. Bills for more social workers and school nurses. Bills to bring smaller class sizes, end corporal punishment and address students mental health.
Marsha Blackburn voted against reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act.
She voted against getting relief aid to small businesses struggling during COVID.
She voted against legislation to cap the price of insulin.
Who WILL Marsha Blackburn vote for? Sure as hell not us.
I'm appalled at the rules Republicans are
creating to silence moms. They should be ashamed of themselves for robbing Tennesseans of our democratic process.
Clarence Thomas was caught being bankrolled by MAGA billionaire Harlan Crow.
Guess who's a max-out donor for Marsha Blackburn? Billionaire Harlan Crow.
It's no surprise she's against ethics reform for SCOTUS. It's just a quid pro Crow for her.
I wish I had recordings of all my conversations with Republican women on their support of our actions (and GOP men reached out as well.) The curtain has been pulled back.
#TNGOPexposed
Privately, some Republicans express concern to me that these events are not only alienating independents, but also GOP women who don’t want their kids getting killed at school.
🌍 Rep.
@DennisHPowers
(R-Jacksboro): “There is no climate change.” 🤔
🔥Rep.
@brotherjones_
(D-Nashville): “Thank you, Representative, for making the case for investing in public education — so we don’t have lawmakers who have this mentality.”
I've been through a school shooting. I've been through a bar shooting. I own a gun, but I still think we need commonsense gun safety legislation — and so do the majority of Tennesseans.
Thank you Tennessee!
I’m running for US Senate to stand TALL for every Tennessean. We’re not going to leave any community behind. See you on the campaign trail!