June Newsletter
Dear Friend,
It has been a very exciting and event-filled June for the Rutherford County Democratic Party! We'd like to say hello and welcome to all the new and amazing individuals we have met over the course of this month, and a warm welcome back to our returning supporters. Here's all that we've done in June, and read until the end to see what we have in store for July!
Hometown Highlights
At the RCDP's Monthly EC Meeting (sign up to attend here!), the Executive Committee voted to establish a policy research team under the Civic Engagement Committee to help state and local candidates focus on different issues that widely affect their districts. If you are interested in joining the policy research subcommittee, send us an email: info@rcdp.org
On June 14th, Murfreesboro Indivisible organized the No Kings Protest at the Avenue. Working with the RCDP and Rutherford County Democratic Women, we held a peaceful and effective protest with 2,000+ people in attendance. Signs and chants all demonstrated the people's passion to take a stand against the current political climate and the Trump Administration.
On June 21st, the RCDP attended Murfreesboro's Juneteenth Celebration hosted by Cultural Arts Murfreesboro to commemorate and acknowledge Black freedom, culture, and resilience. This annual event was held at Bradley Academy Museum and Cultural Center. We met so many people in the MiddleTN community and connected more than 50 new people directly to the party.
The RCDP also attended RuCo Pride in Murfreesboro on the 21st! The celebration was hosted at Oakland's Mansion. This fun-filled event featured live music, local vendors, and many great organizations. At our booth, we had RCDP pride pins, stickers, and a tie-dye fundraiser! Thank you to everyone who participated and donated to the party. We hope to see you all again for Boro Pride!
We've officially updated the RCDP website! Thank you all so much for your patience. Now, you can find more information on the Executive Committee, our officer board, upcoming events, and more!
On Friday, June 27th, Chair Matt Fee and Secretary Theo Baker went to the Rutherford County Election Commission in Murfreesboro to call for a Democratic primary in Rutherford County in 2026. The RCDP is committed to ensuring fair democratic processes take place at all levels of our government, but especially right here at home!
Building Blue
The Candidate Recruitment Committee, chaired by Matt Fee, will be hosting a Candidate Interest Meeting on July 17th at the Technology Engagement Center at 6PM to discuss everything you'll need to know to run for office in Rutherford County! Join us to learn about local positions across RuCo, key election dates, managing a campaign, fundraising, and more! Sign up to attend here!
The RCDP is picking up True Blue Tuesday's again! Stay tuned on our socials to see our kick-off date, and join us for a night of building blue in Rutherford County!
Capitol Watch
State: Two members of the Putnam County Young Democrats—Trenton Strode and Aaron Cofer—were arrested at a June 30th county commission meeting, in what many see as a disturbing escalation by local law enforcement against peaceful political engagement. Both men had attended the meeting to express concern over public issues, but were instead charged with assault and disrupting the meeting despite eyewitness accounts and early reports describing their actions as nonviolent. This comes as the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office becomes the first in Tennessee to join ICE’s new “task force model,” deepening fears of targeted crackdowns on marginalized and dissenting voices. In response, local activists have launched a petition demanding the immediate release of the full, unedited video footage from the meeting to ensure transparency and accountability. The delayed release of the video raises serious concerns about selective enforcement and political targeting in Putnam County. The Putnam County Democratic Party stands in support of Strode, Cofer, and all residents who believe that civic participation should never be criminalized. Read and sign the petition here.
State: Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland construction worker and longtime U.S. resident with an American family, will face federal child smuggling charges in Tennessee before any deportation proceedings resume, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. His case has drawn national attention after he was mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March under the Trump administration, only to be returned to the U.S. under a Supreme Court order. Though a judge ruled he could be released while awaiting trial, fears of immediate deportation have led his lawyers to seek emergency intervention in federal court. The Justice Department now insists Abrego Garcia will stand trial first, calling the charges “horrific” and vowing he will not go free. Read more from the Associated Press here.
Local: The Tennessee Senate recently passed a sweeping $1.9 billion business tax refund law, despite 13 of its 33 members—including Republican Sen. Shane Reeves of Murfreesboro—declaring a conflict of interest before the vote. Reeves, a pharmacist and co‑founder of Rutherford County’s TwelveStone Health Partners, previously received a $1 million FastTrack grant for the same company, which now employs nearly 300 people locally. Critics argue that the law allows businesses to "double-dip," while transparency advocates warn the refund structure lacks sufficient detail about who benefits. The bill, backed by Gov. Bill Lee and passed 25–6 in the Senate and 69–23 in the House, has sparked debate about public policy and accountability. Read more on Tennessee Lookout here.
Local: The Tennessee Comptroller has taken over the Rutherford County Property Assessor’s Office after finding serious problems with how property values were being calculated. A state review found that more than 11% of the sampled assessments were wrong—more than double what’s legally allowed—meaning up to 15,000 homes or lotscould have been over- or under-valued. After the office failed to fix the issue within the required 60 days, the state stepped in to take control. County Mayor Joe Carr said the mistakes were unacceptable and thanked the staff members who spoke up, calling for the office to be held accountable. Read more about it on the Murfreesboro Post.
Local: Middle Tennessee State University is dismantling its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts—including removing DEI language from its website, suspending scholarships tied to DEI criteria, and ending support for related programs—in response to Tennessee’s new “Dismantling DEI Departments” Act and a Trump administration executive order. Current students receiving DEI-based aid will continue through the 2025–26 school year, but all future awards are suspended pending legal clarity. University leaders, including President Sidney McPhee, have directed faculty and staff to reform day-to-day policies to ensure full compliance while also pledging support for affected students and employees. These shifts mark a major rollback of MTSU’s institutional equity efforts, aligning with conservative state policy but drawing concern from DEI advocates nationwide. Read more about it from MTSU Sidelines, The Tennessean, and the Tennessee Star.
Blue Business Spotlight
Looking for music lessons and tutoring in Rutherford County? Connect with Viva Vocal Musictoday! This Murfreesboro-based business is owned by the dedicated and highly-talented Angela Beale. Viva Vocal Music is passionate about teaching music to students of all ages, creating opportunities for growth, and uniting voices in song. Their innovating and engaging classes empower students and foster a lifelong appreciation for music. Enroll today!
Hear directly from Angela:
"Viva Vocal Music is all about creating joyful, personalized music education for every student! With years of experience as a passionate K-12 music teacher and performer, I believe music has the power to lift every voice, build confidence, and bring people together. Whether it’s voice, piano, or general music enrichment, I meet each learner where they are—because every voice deserves to be heard, every talent deserves to shine.
Choose Viva Vocal Music for a customized, caring, and creative approach that nurtures growth, expression, and a lifelong love of music. Let’s make music that moves you!"
Website: https://www.vivavocal.net/
Email: abeale@vivavocal.net
Phone Number: (931) 239-0523
Community Connections
RCDP Monthly Executive Committee Meeting
July 8, 2025 | 6:00-7:30PM | Virtual (Google Meet)
Stay up to date on what the RCDP is working on at our July monthly meeting! While only elected Executive Committee members may vote, all are welcome to attend and observe.
July 12, 2025 | 6:00-8:00PM | Music City Center (Nashville, TN)
Join Democrats from across the state at the most anticipated dinner of the year! Featuring DNC Chair Ken Martin as the keynote speaker, build networks across Tennessee with likeminded Democrats to prepare for midterm elections, celebrate the Tennessee Democratic Party, and hear from state leaders about the party's next steps. This is a ticketed event, so purchase your tickets today!
July 13, 2025 | 5:30-8:00PM | Oakland's Mansion (Murfreesboro)
Join the Rutherford County Democratic Women for their Fifth Annual Garden Party. Being their premier fundraising event, the night will include a silent auction and other fundraising initiatives to help the RCDW train and support future female candidates for Rutherford County. There are only 100 tickets being sold, so be sure to buy your ticket today!
July 19, 2025 | 9:00am-4:30pm | Murfreesboro, TN
Join the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in their one-day training to learn about how to organize right here in Rutherford County. The training is free for everyone, but space is limited! Build connections, foster networks, and "turn outrage into action" as we move forward towards this upcoming election cycle and the 2026 midterms.
July 25, 2025 | 5:30-7:00PM | Cultivate Coworking (Murfreesboro)
Join the Tennessee Advocates for Planned Parenthood (TAPP) for their monthly Progress Potluck featuring organizers from ReMIX TN. The discussion will cover how to respond to ICE raids in Rutherford County, the third anniversary of the Dobbs decision eliminating one's constitutional right to abortion, and the impacts of the recent Skrmetti ruling on gender-affirming healthcare in Tennessee.
Democratic Women Monthly Meeting
July 31, 2025 | 6:00-7:30PM | Linebaugh Public Library (Murfreesboro)
Join the Rutherford County Democratic Women for their monthly meeting. Get involved with the subcommittees such as RuCo Action, Democrats Care, and more to help sustain the heart of the party.
