What Sen. Doug Jones had to say to Tenn. Democrats
LEBANON — Alabama Sen. Doug Jones told Tennessee Democrats on Saturday night that the South isn’t “ruby red” and by electing good people to higher office they can help change the state.
“I don’t think Alabama and the South are ruby red,” Jones said. “This is time to elevate good people to our state offices and Washington. There can be a state of change in Tennessee.”
The Democratic senator defeated Republican Roy Moore in a closely watched special election last year that drew national attention. His victory has given hope to Democrats elsewhere in the Republican dominated South that they too can win.
Jones took center stage at the Tennessee Democratic Party’s statewide fundraiser in Lebanon, urging civility and working across party lines to get things done in Washington.
He said he felt voters were tired of polarization and that he came to the Senate to find common ground.
“That’s the only way we are going to get things done,” he said. “I have partnered with my Republican colleagues to do that. But we have an obligation to stand by our principles with civility.”
Jones’ speech before the Tennessee Democratic Party comes at a time when Democrats in Tennessee are fielding more candidates for office than they have in recent years and as Democrats compete in two statewide races — the campaigns for U.S. Senate and governor.
This year, 100 candidates are running for the state House and state Senate, which is larger than any election cycle in recent memory, according to party officials. Democrats are also running in all nine of the state’s Congressional districts.
A bump for Bredesen
But it’s the high-profile races for U.S. Senate and governor that are drawing most of the attention.
Former Gov. Phil Bredesen, the last Democrat to win a statewide campaign in Tennessee, is in a competitive contest with U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, RBrentwood, for the seat of retiring U.S. Sen. Bob Corker.
Some Democrats across the country are looking to Tennessee as part of an effort to retake control of the Senate, where Republicans hold a slim 51-49 advantage.
Bredesen has made a point not to campaign against President Donald Trump and has said he expects to be in the minority party if elected, given the challenges Democrats face in other states.
Before he left the dinner, Jones said he would look forward to having Bredesen working alongside him in the Senate.
“Our opposition shouldn’t be our enemy,” Jones said. “People all over the country want to see their elected officials working together. His opponent isn’t going to do that.”
“Today, as the senator of Alabama, I ask my staff who have we heard from and what can we do for them,” Jones said. “That’s how you get elected in Alabama. That’s how you get elected in Tennessee, even if you don’t have all the answers.”
Bredesen introduced Jones at the dinner and said the Alabama senator is “focused on kitchen-table issues.”
“That’s what anyone ought to do,” Bredesen said. “That’s how anyone should operate in the U.S. Senate.”
For his part, Bredesen urged Democrats to help his campaign.
“I need your help,” he said. “But I won’t pay you back. Instead, I’ll pay it forward by being the best damn senator you’ve laid eyes on.”
Doug Jones
Republican response
Tennessee has become increasingly Republican in recent years, but the state’s Senate race is considered a toss up by many experts, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
Republicans have sought to portray Bredesen as a candidate in lock-step with national Democrats, someone who would work against the GOP agenda and Trump, who campaigned for Blackburn last month in Nashville.
On Saturday, Tennessee Republicans continued pressing that theme.
“Phil Bredesen — just like Doug Jones — likes to paint himself as a moderate Democrat who isn’t beholden to liberals like Chuck Schumer, but the reality is far different,” Tennessee GOP chairman Scott Golden said.
“If Bredesen and Jones had their way, there would have been no tax cuts, no bigger paychecks, and no bonuses.“
Abbi Sigler, a Blackburn campaign spokesman, echoed that, saying that as soon as Jones got to Washington, “he fell right in line with Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer.”
“That’s exactly what Tennesseans expect from Phil Bredesen. A vote for him is a vote for the policies of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Tennesseans know they can trust Marsha Blackburn to represent their values in the United States Senate.”
Democratic gubernatorial candidates Karl Dean, the former Nashville mayor, and Craig Fitzhugh, the state House minority leader, also attended and spoke at the Democratic dinner.
Reach Emily West at erwest@tennessean.com, at 615-613-1380; or on Twitter at @emwest22.