This is dark. It’s scary. But fear doesn’t get the final word here. Community does. If you’ve been watching all of this unfold from your kitchen table thinking, what am I supposed to do with this? — this is your way in.

Five people run elections in Anderson County. That’s it. Not a slogan — a structure. And when that structure stops acting like a governing body, the “process” doesn’t just get sloppy. It gets dangerous.

While everyone else is waiting on a headline or a hero, petition season is already moving. Meetings are already happening. The people who run elections are already setting the calendar. And the ballot is getting written in real time… with or without you.

The tired you’re feeling heading into 2026 isn’t weakness. It’s what happens when national politics makes you feel powerless while real life keeps getting more expensive. So here’s our answer in Anderson County: we’re building local power early… with candidates, district teams, community service, and caucuses that help people find each other on purpose. This is the New Year Porchlight Checklist. No guilt. No homework. Pick two boxes (one “Belonging,” one “Building”) and we’ll help with the rest.

The Anderson County Democratic Party has adopted a new caucus structure that expands bottom-up organizing and opens real pathways for everyday people to lead. We’re building a people-powered party shaped by neighbors, workers, and families — not insiders — and creating more chairs at the table for everyone in our community.

This week, Anderson County Democrats are rebuilding our foundation for the fights ahead — from our first General Assembly in years to a statewide stand for democracy at the No Kings Rally. The work starts here, in the places where people still know each other’s names.