Republicans shut down the government and tried to blame Democrats. We know better. From hospitals to schools, farms to Y-12, the fallout is hitting us here in Anderson County — and we’re fighting back. October is packed with ways to plug in, from our county-wide General Assembly to the very first Secret City Pride and No Kings Day.

There is no playbook for this moment. Some of us feel grief, some feel anger, some feel numb. All of it is okay. What ties us together is this: political violence is always wrong. Democracy cannot survive if bullets decide who speaks and who doesn’t. The floor has to be decency — because without it, there’s nothing left to stand on.

The Porchlight is our way of keeping the light on. Every month, you’ll find what’s happening with your local Democratic Party — the big dates, the neighborhood gatherings, the work we’re doing together, and the small ways you can plug in.

We debated it. We voted on it. And now we’re united in moving forward: Democrats will hold local primaries in 2026. This is how we build power from the ground up — by giving our neighbors real choices, recruiting local leaders, and showing that Democrats are doing the work right here at home.

They called it a roundtable. But what happened at Grand Oaks was a scripted stunt. The Secretary of Education read a statement, dodged every question, and let local officials speak for her—while the public was shut out.

Our schools were used as props. Our children were used as a backdrop. And the people who should’ve spoken up? They sat quietly and smiled for the cameras.

Most people don’t run for local office because they think someone else will. But that’s how we lose — before the race even starts.

If you’ve ever looked around and thought, “somebody has to do something,” this is your sign: You are somebody.