DFA backs Danielle Mitchell for Congress in Tennessee’s 3rd Congressional District

Today, Democracy for America (DFA) endorsed Danielle Mitchell in her race to represent Tennessee's 3rd District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

DFA Chair Jim Dean on the grassroots progressive organization's decision to back Mitchell in her race for the TN-03:

"Democracy for America members in Tennessee and across the country are excited to endorse Dr. Danielle Mitchell for Congress because we know she understands on a personal and professional level the high stakes in our fight to ensure that every American has access to healthcare, justice, and the opportunity to build a better life.

"As a family physician, Dr. Danielle Mitchell has seen the struggles of Tennessee's working families first hand and, as a someone who grew up in poverty, she's also lived them herself.

"In Congress, Dr. Danielle Mitchell will be a champion for the critical inclusive populist reforms like Medicare for All, a $15 minimum wage, and robust public education funding that are necessary to address exploding racial and economic inequity.

"In a political culture dominated by the wealthy and powerful, we need Dr. Danielle Mitchell's lived experience working with and struggling through poverty now more than ever before. Our country will be made stronger with Dr. Danielle Mitchell's bold, authentic, and progressive voice in Congress, and that's why we couldn't be more thrilled to support her in this race." -- Jim Dean, Chair, Democracy for America

In addition to backing Dr. Danielle Mitchell, DFA is also celebrating its endorsement of three other candidates in the Volunteer State -- Lee Harris for Mayor of Shelby Co., Lori Clemons for Williamson Co. Commissioner (Dist. 2) & Len Assante for Sumner Co. Commissioner (Dist. 6)-- it is supporting ahead of the August 2, 2018 statewide election.

DFA has 15,390 members in the state of Tennessee and more than one million members nationwide.

As a part of its work in the 2018 election cycle, DFA intends to raise and spend more than $12 million in support of progressive candidates, make more than 2 million voter contacts, and support more than 250 candidates nationwide -- like Danielle, Lee, Lori, & Len -- in running inclusive populist campaigns committed to turning out the New American Majority of people of color and progressive white voters in November.

Dr. Danielle Mitchell is a practicing family physician who knows what it means to struggle and triumph in the face of adversity. The first in her immediate family to go to college, Dr. Mitchell was inspired to become a physician after seeing her parents struggle to secure healthcare for her epileptic brother, and seeing him pass away just a week shy of his 13th birthday simply because they couldn't get access to the care he needed. Today, she provides healthcare for more than 1,300 Tennesseans through a clinic she opened more than four years ago in Chattanooga. In Congress, Mitchell will not only be champion for Medicare for All, she'll help lead the fight for inclusive populist progressive priorities that address racial injustice, stand up to corporate interests, and help others break the cycle of poverty.

Democracy for America is a member-driven, people-powered progressive PAC with more than one million members nationwide committed to taking on income inequality, money in politics, and structural racism. Since its 2004 founding, DFA members have raised and contributed more than $54 million and made more than 21.9 million volunteer calls to help successfully elect 917 progressive candidates nationwide.