Appalachia Forward

The 2024 election numbers paint a vivid picture of missed opportunities: Trump’s base remained engaged, while millions of potential Democratic voters did not. A record-breaking number of voters energized to support a populist agenda secured Biden’s administration in 2020. However, even in a record-breaking election turnout, less than half of East Tennessee’s population participated in deciding the election results, a number that trends across the US. 

The bar graphs below show the registered voters in each county, voter turnout in each county, and the rate of voter turnout (registered voters vs. voter turnout) for each county. 

To look at these numbers on a regional scale, the total population, total registered voters, and total voters cast as well as regional percentages are shown below: 

• Total Population (8 counties): 516,931
• Total Registered Voters: 331,016
• Total Votes Cast: 232,260

Overall Percentages

• Registered Voters as a Percentage of Total Population: 64.03%
• Turnout (Votes Cast as a Percentage of Total Population): 44.93%
• Voter Turnout Rate (Votes Cast as a Percentage of Registered Voters): 70.17%

This means that just 44.93% of the total residents in these counties ultimately participated in deciding the 2020 election results. 2020 was a high voter turnout year garnering more votes than previous Presidental elections and vastly more votes than any previous mid-term or local elections. 70% of registered voters showed up, but many voting eligible people are not registered. Although it is difficult to get numbers on voter eligible population in just these counties, we know that only 59.8% of the voter eligible population voted across Tennessee in 2020. Then, if we look to national statistics as an example of the discrepancies between the voter eligible population and number of registered voters, we see that only 65.9% of the voting eligible population voted in the 2020 election. 

Nationally in 2024, when we view voter turnout versus total population in terms of the percentage, we see that just 45.15% of the U.S. population decided the 2024 election. 

These numbers reveal a useful insight: the majority of eligible Tennesseans, and Americans, are choosing not to vote, either out of disillusionment or a lack of belief that their voices will make a difference. This is where the Democratic Party has a profound opportunity. By investing in popular education, community organizing, and voter outreach, we can show people the tangible impact of their participation in civics. We can educate people on the benefits of voting and civic engagement, not just as an exercise in democracy but as a pathway to change that directly affects their lives. If we commit to building a Democratic Party that serves as a genuine infrastructure for the people, we can expand the electorate and bring more voices into the fold.

Our path forward is evident. Our platform must be populist. We must center equity, liberation, and well-being for all Americans, starting with all East Tennesseans—lives in which people are truly free and in which they can pursue a good life. Our call is to transform our local Democratic parties into infrastructure that improves the everyday lives of Americans.

Identifying the Gaps: Where We’ve Fallen Short

The Democratic Party’s struggle, nationally and in East Tennessee, stems from a disconnection with the everyday issues that shape our neighbors’ lives. The Party has failed to ground our political practice on the issues that matter most—rising costs of living, lack of affordable healthcare, job insecurity, and the systemic barriers that prevent people from achieving a secure, dignified life. We have failed to make clear that the Democratic Party stands with working families and those who struggle to make ends meet; with those oppressed by lasting legacies of racism, hetreonormativity, sexism, and ableism; and with young people who are disillusioned with an economic system that promised security in exchange for hard work but has failed to deliver on that promise.

East Tennesseans deserve a party that consistently shows up to alleviate these struggles. When wages stagnate, when healthcare access is limited, and when parents worry about their children’s futures, our neighbors need to see Democrats standing with them, advocating for real solutions. To bridge this gap, we must become a party that listens, understands, and responds with policies that are both practical and transformative. If we don’t make these changes, we risk perpetuating this cycle of disconnection and disenfranchisement.

Learning from Opponents

The Republican Party has positioned itself as the voice of rural, religious, and conservative values, creating a narrative that aligns with East Tennessee’s culture of tradition, self-reliance, and self-determination. They speak to values that feel personal, rooted, and familiar, even if their policies ultimately serve corporate interests over common folk. While Republicans positioned themselves as defenders of a “traditional” way of life, we know that true community values mean protecting each other’s rights, supporting working families, and ensuring that everyone has a fair chance to thrive. While Democrats have the policies and ideas to genuinely improve lives, we’ve often spoken in a language that doesn’t reflect the culture, leaving an impression that we’re distant or uninvested in the unique values of rural Appalachia. Our challenge—and opportunity—is to frame our policies in ways that resonate with these values, making it clear that our vision is inclusive, grounded in Appalachian roots, and committed to everyone’s well-being. We must make it clear that the Democratic Party is rooted in local culture, committed to the well-being of all, and ready to defend the rights and futures of our neighbors.

For the Democratic Party to rebuild trust and inspire engagement, we must reclaim these shared values in our own way. We need to emphasize that we, too, believe in the importance of family, community, and the dignity of work. But unlike our opponents, we must show that our vision is inclusive, progressive, and committed to empowering everyone—not just a select few. By framing our progressive policies within the language of Appalachian values, we can offer an alternative that feels both familiar and inspiring, building a vision of the future that is rooted in local culture yet expansive in its potential. 

A Call for Unity and bold Leadership

It is time for a new direction within our party. For too long, we have relied on compromise and incrementalism, hoping to appeal to the broadest audience by watering down our progressive ideals. But this approach has left too many people feeling unheard and unrepresented. Our greatest path to unity now is through strength, clarity, and bold vision that meets the urgency of today’s challenges.

This is a call to our centrist allies: support a progressive agenda that truly addresses people’s needs. This is not about creating division but recognizing that half-measures cannot rise to the moment. Incremental change will not address the urgency of the challenges we face. We need a platform that fights for healthcare as a human right, wages that sustain families, and policies that guarantee equity and well-being for all. We need leaders unafraid to speak truth to power, challenge the status quo, and stand with the working people of East Tennessee.

This is not about choosing between unity and progress or division and compromise—it is a call to build a future where the Democratic Party leads with courage, compassion, and conviction.

Let us unite now, with the liberal left setting the course and centrist allies providing steadfast support, to create a Party that is truly of the people. Together, we can reclaim our identity as the Party of the people, committed to justice, opportunity, and dignity for all East Tennesseans.