Team Oliver has two volunteer opportunities to support the Senate District 19 community.

Vonda McDaniel Labor Day Parade | September 5

This Labor Day, walk with Senator Oliver at the Vonda McDaniel Labor Day Parade and Celebration. Vonda was a daughter of District 19 and a giant in the labor movement — locally and nationally — and her legacy is one of showing up for working people, every single time. In honor of Senator Oliver’s constituent, sorority sister, and movement comrade, Vonda McDaniel, let’s honor that by showing up ourselves. Walk with Team Oliver, meet your neighbors, and help make sure this day is a celebration of everything Vonda built.

Walk with Team Oliver

TSU Homecoming Parade | October 17

Tennessee State University’s Homecoming celebration takes to the streets—bringing together alumni, students, organizations and the Nashville community. Get geeked for this time-honored tradition and show your ‘Big Blue’ pride by walking the homecoming parade with Team Oliver.

Walk with Team Oliver

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🐯The Tiger Affair
Tonight - Friday, August 28
6:00 – 8:00 PM
AME Publishing House
900 13th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37212

Proudly sponsored by the Tennessee Titans and Buffalo PAC

Hey Tennessee State University alumni, students and friends!

Join the Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators and the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus for The Tiger Affair — a swanky welcome reception kicking off John Merritt Classic weekend in style. Whether you bleed TSU blue, JSU blue, or just love a good celebration of our HBCUs, this one’s for you.

✨Free drinks, food, and good vibes while they last.

We’ll have a candid, must-hear conversation on the importance of our HBCUs, moderated by DeMarco Morgan, former Good Morning America anchor and Jackson State alum.

PANELISTS

• Rep. Jesse Chism — Chair, Tennessee Black Caucus

• Rep. Kabir Karriem — Chair, Mississippi Black Caucus

• Sen. Charlane Oliver — Vice Chair, Tennessee Black Caucus

• Rep. Harold Love, Jr. — President, National Black Caucus of State Legislators

• Rep. Zakiya Summers - Secretary, Mississippi Black Caucus

We’ll see you tonight,

Sen. Charlane Oliver

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It’s been a minute since my last newsletter, and a lot has happened since June — so let’s catch up.

As many of you know, I stood on my desk in the Senate Chamber this spring in protest of the supermajority’s dismantling of the Memphis-Shelby County congressional district. That stand came with consequences: I was removed from my seat on the Government Operations Committee, and my pay was taken away. Let me be clear — I don’t regret it, and I’d do it again. If the price of standing up for fair representation is losing a committee assignment and a paycheck, that’s a price I’m willing to pay.

Here’s the thing: now that I have a little more time on my hands, I intend to use it. I’ll be spending this season being exactly the kind of problem the supermajority and their corporate backers don’t want in Nashville — showing up, speaking out, and organizing alongside all of you to get corporate money out of our politics for good.

This newsletter is a look back at everything I’ve been up to this summer, and a look ahead at the events coming up that are going to get you fired up and ready to fight for a better Tennessee. Keep scrolling — let’s get into it.

Stand Together Tennessee

For fifteen years, one-party control in Tennessee has served corporations — not Tennessee families. Big corporations and billionaires make record profits, donate to politicians to legislate their interests, and those politicians rig the rules and redraw maps to consolidate power, while everyday costs keep climbing: groceries, rent, schools, roads, clean water and air, and neighborhood safety.

Stand Together Tennessee is our organized, affirmative response. We’re naming the corporate donors behind these harms, building people power in communities across the state, and fighting for the Tennessee families actually deserve — not going after any one party, but standing up for the issues Tennesseans agree on across party lines. Learn more about Stand Together and the legislation that I plan to file this January, visit here:

Stand Together Tennessee

TDOT Toll Lanes Announcement + Public Meeting

The state has selected a team of builders to construct toll lanes along 26 miles of Interstate 24 between Nashville and Murfreesboro. The Transportation Modernization Board voted last Wednesday to select DriveTN to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the $9.2 billion project, which will provide a projected $24.8 billion in concession value to Tennessee.

Upcoming I-24 Southeast Community Meetings

District 19 residents are invited to attend a public meeting to learn how this project could impact our community. This is your chance to ask questions and speak directly with the project’s technical experts — bring your ideas, concerns, and feedback. Your voice matters in shaping what happens on our roads.

Tuesday, September 8, 2026, 12:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., Nashville Public Library Pruitt Branch 117, Charles E Davis Blvd., Nashville, TN, 37210

Wednesday, September 9, 2026, 12:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., Smyrna Event Center, 100 Sam Ridley Pkwy E., Smyrna, TN, 37167

Each open-house style meeting will allow members of the public to review project materials and talk to the project team about the future of the corridor.

Park Point East Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Last week MDHA touted the opening of new affordable housing units in East Nashville called Park Point East. This project is part of the Cayce Transformation, a plan to revitalize the Cayce Place neighborhood. The Park Point East includes 203 affordable units, with 115 set aside for current Cayce Place residents.

Rest In Peace - Rosetta Perry, Vonda McDaniel, Jamie Isabel

We have lost some giants this summer, and we honor their legacies. Rosetta Perry, founder of the Tennessee Tribune, gave our community a voice and a platform for decades — her impact on Black media in Nashville will never be forgotten. Vonda McDaniel spent her life fighting to make sure working families were protected and respected, a legacy that lives on in every worker she stood up for. And former Councilman Jamie Isabel served our city with dedication, leaving his mark on the neighborhoods he loved. We carry their work forward. Rest in power.

Sharon Hurt, Swearing-In, Davidson County Clerk, Friday, August 28

This Friday, Nashville-Davidson County will swear in the Honorable Sharon Hurt as our new County Clerk. Congratulations to Clerk Hurt on this new chapter of service to our community — she becomes the second African-American woman to serve in this office.

Black Caucus Reception | Friday, August 28

Three Star Dinner | Saturday, August 29

Organize Tennessee Democracy Summit Saturday, August 29

This is our moment. The Organize Tennessee Democracy Summit is this Saturday, and I want you in the room. They’ll talk strategy, share resources, and build the kind of people-powered movement that actually changes outcomes in District 19 and beyond.

RSVP Here

Swearing-In Ceremony for Dawn Deaner | Friday, August 29

This Friday., Davidson County welcomes a new Criminal Court Judge, Division III — congratulations to the Honorable Dawn Deaner, who will be sworn in this Saturday, August 29th.

RSVP Here

Swearing-In Ceremony for the Joseph Day | August 31

Join me in celebrating the Honorable Joseph Day as he’s sworn in for his second four-year term as Davidson County Circuit Clerk this Monday, August 31st. Congratulations to Clerk Day on his continued service to our community.

Vonda McDaniel Labor Day Parade | September 5

This Labor Day, join me at the Vonda McDaniel Labor Day Parade and Celebration. Vonda was a daughter of District 19 and a giant in the labor movement — locally and nationally — and her legacy is one of showing up for working people, every single time. Let’s honor that by showing up ourselves. Walk with Team Oliver, meet your neighbors, and help make sure this day is a celebration of everything Vonda built.

March W/ Team Oliver

Hamilton County Democratic Dinner | September 12

On September 12, I’ll be joining the Hamilton County Democrats for their annual dinner — and I’d love to see some familiar faces from District 19 in the crowd. It’s always good to connect with folks doing the work across our state. Hope to see you there!

Register Here

People’s Hearing on Corporate Greed | September 16

I’m proud to stand with Tennessee For All for the People’s Hearing on Corporate Greed, and I want District 19 in the room with me. This is our chance to speak directly about how corporate profiteering is hitting our wallets — from rent to groceries to healthcare — and to demand real accountability. Come share your story, or come to listen and stand with your neighbors. Either way, your voice matters here.

RSVP

Bill Beck Bridge Renaming | September 19

Fisk Data Center Town Hall

NCSL Conference

Dickson County Democratic Dinner

Feed The Children

East Nashtivists

Sen. Oliver Seeks Reversal of Penalties Over Congressional Redistricting Protest

State Sen. Charlane Oliver threatens legal action over ‘unlawful’ special session punishment

New TN law aims to expand child care access as report finds statewide shortage

Fisk Data Center Proposal Faces Continued Backlash at Town Hall

Fisk University’s proposed data center sparks heated town hall in Nashville

Nashville NAACP town hall addresses data center possibility in Fisk University’s master plan

Tennessee Democratic senator suspended from committee over special session protest

Contact my office if you have constituent needs, to schedule a meeting, or invite me to your next community event.

Office of State Senator Charlane Oliver
Cordell Hull Building
425 Rep. John Lewis Way North
Suite 766

Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Phone: (615) 741-2453

Email: sen.charlane.oliver@capitol.tn.gov
Scheduling: keo.sparks@capitol.tn.gov
Press Inquiries: brandon.puttbrese@capitol.tn.gov

Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube

If you haven’t yet registered for Tuesday night’s virtual women’s event, you’ve got two more days!

Register Now

Here’s why you need to attend:

Many of you are asking, how do we get out of this mess (also known as the Tennessee Republican Supermajority) we’re being held hostage in. We’re constantly being dragged backwards and creating pointless solutions to problems that don’t exists (Republicans are debating calling us into *gasp* another special session as we speak!).

❌ Endless culture wars.

❌ Gerrymandering.

❌ School vouchers.

❌ Data centers.

❌ Corporate tax breaks.

❌ Oh! and Chinese fortune cookies? (really?!)

Tennesseans didn’t ask for this stuff! They want lower prices and higher wages.

Stand Together Tennessee is how we begin to change course for the future of our state.

I’ve got a plan and I’m kicking it off Tuesday night at 6:00 p.m. during the ‘Women Stand Together for Charlane’ virtual fundraiser and campaign launch. Get inspired from dynamic speakers, hear my plan, and learn how to fund the frontlines of this fight. Our very own District 19 constituent, Alisha Haddock, is the emcee!

It’s free to attend, but you must register to receive the zoom link:

Register now

Thank you to our incredible Host Committee!!

(Host committee still in formation)

During the redistricting special session in May, I made the courageous decision to stand on my Senate desk and sing with pride after the Speaker cut my mic while giving a floor speech. I held up a banner that read “No Jim Crow 2.0.” For that, GOP leadership refused to count my ‘NO’ vote. Then they came for my paycheck.

This is what happened next.

By late May, Lt. Gov. McNally had stripped me of my committee assignment, restricted my travel reimbursement, and eliminated my per diem — the pay every legislator relies on to do our jobs when we’re not in regular legislative session. The punishments were handed down because I refused to be silent and complicit while they rigged our maps to erase Black representation in Memphis.

On July 8th, constitutional lawyers from Georgetown Law's Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection sent Lt. Governor Randy McNally a letter on my behalf.

The letter argues these punishments are unlawful on three separate grounds:

• they violate the Tennessee Constitution, which reserves the power to discipline senators to the full Senate rather than the Speaker acting alone;

• they violate the First Amendment because they retaliate against me for core, protected political speech; and

• they violate the Equal Protection and Guarantee Clauses by denying the constituents of Senate District 19 equal representation in the General Assembly.

The letter requested that the legislative record be corrected to reflect my “no” vote on the redistricting bill — which the letter says was never counted — and that all punitive measures be rescinded.

They gave Lt. Gov. McNally a deadline of July 31st to respond. He didn’t.

When a legislative supermajority uses its power to silence a dissenting voice, erase a duly cast vote and punish a Senator for protesting that abuse of power, the damage reaches far beyond one person. The people of Senate District 19 lose representation when their elected Senator is denied a vote and prevented from fully participating in the work of the General Assembly.

The history behind this protest matters. Black Tennesseans fought, marched, were beaten, lynched, jailed and killed for the right to have their voices counted in our democracy. That history cannot be honored by remaining silent when those rights are undermined today. A legislative supermajority should never have the power to silence opposition and then punish the people who object by striping our ability to serve our constituents.

This letter isn't about me or a decorum dispute. It's about the constitutional right of a legislator to dissent and what happens to any dissenting member who insists on being heard. This is about accountability, free speech and the fundamental right of every Tennessean to have their voice represented.

They singled me out for punishment. The other members got a warning. I got the full weight of their retaliation, because they know I won’t back down quietly from their authoritarian actions. I’m exploring every avenue at my disposal for seeking legal redress — not just for me, but for every Tennessean whose representative gets punished for doing their job. Because when they silence me, they silence Senate District 19.

Tennessee is not a red state. We’re a gerrymandered state, and right now, we’re represented by one party led by authoritarian rule who won’t even answer for what they’ve done.

Read the full letter below:

Letter Re Penalties Against Sen Charlane Oliver

372KB ∙ PDF file

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A letter sent July 8, 2026 by attorneys with the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown Law, on behalf Sen. Charlane Oliver, requested Senate Speaker Randy McNally to rescind penalties against the Nashville senator.

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I need your support now more than ever as I take on this challenge for Tennesseans. Stand with me by joining this movement.

Join Our Movement

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Look at this list!! I’m thrilled to share the Hosts for Women Stand Together for Charlane Virtual Fundraiser!

As your Democratic nominee for Senate District 19, I’m proud to have women nationwide standing with me right now fighting for our voting rights, our communities, and our right to even show up and do this work without retaliation. And this is just the initial Host Committee. There’s still time to add your name to the cause.

Add My Name!

On Tuesday, August 18th, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM CT, join me for “Women Stand Together for Charlane” — a virtual fundraiser celebrating women’s leadership, voting rights and the official kickoff of my Stand Together Tennessee initiative.

Hear how we fight back

Under one-party rule for 15 years, Tennesseans have faced rising groceries, unaffordable rent, underfunded schools, congested roads, crumbling infrastructure, polluted water and air, terrorized neighbors. Stand Together Tennessee is my organized response to the GOP’s recent redistricting and subsequent retribution of my desk protest.

Get energized from dynamic women on the frontlines

Hear strategies from an impressive lineup of powerhouse sisters who’ve been in the trenches of democracy work nationwide, including:

• LaTosha Brown, Co-Founder of Black Voters Matter Fund

• Muthoni Wambu Kraal, Co-Founder & CEO, Women’s Democracy Action

• Erin Vilardi, Founder & CEO, Vote Run Lead Action

• Liuba Grechen Shirley, Founder & CEO, Vote Mama PAC

Trust me, this ain’t the event to catch FOMO. You’ll want to be on this call.

Be the first to snag custom Stand Together merch!

As an attendee, you’ll get exclusive access to our new Stand Together Merch Store. Snag t-shirts, totes, mugs, and more - featuring custom designs created by Tennessee artists!

Register

This event is especially meaningful because August 18th marks the anniversary of Tennessee’s ratification of the 19th Amendment, securing women’s right to vote. I’ve always stood on the frontlines for voting rights, and now I’m asking women across Tennessee to stand with me.

Can you to join me in giving $50 or more to help power this movement forward? Every gift — big or small — makes a real difference, and I truly believe this is a moment worth investing in.

Contribute Now

I hope you’ll support the courageous work I’m embarking on.

In solidarity,
Senator Charlane Oliver

Today is Election Day, and every vote cast today decides whether District 19 keeps a fighter in the State Senate. Polls close at 7:00 p.m. local time tonight, and if you’re in line by then, stay in line. Tennessee law guarantees you the right to vote as long as you’re already there when polls close. Bring a government-issued photo ID, and when you check in, ask for a Democratic ballot. That’s how your voice gets counted in the races that will decide the direction of our state.

Find Your Polling Location

For the past four years, I’ve done exactly what I told you I would: show up, speak up, and refuse to be bought or bossed. I passed the Norma Jean Upshaw Act and Child Care Red Tape Reduction Act. I authored the Homes Not Hedge Funds Act to protect our families from Wall Street investors buying up our neighborhoods out from under us. When leadership tried to punish me for standing up on the Senate floor, I didn’t back down. I’ve stood with working families over corporate CEOs, defended our right to vote, championed reproductive freedom and child care investments, and fought for our four HBCUs and neighborhoods too often underfunded.

That record is why I’m proud to be endorsed by The Collective PAC, Vote Mama PAC, March On PAC, Tennessee Advocates for Planned Parenthood, SEIU Local 205, and Moms Demand Action. I've earned the trust from national organizations electing Black leaders and mothers, to the union representing the working people who keep Nashville running.

I humbly ask for your vote to continue the work we’ve started four years ago.

Be ready…this ballot is long! In fact, every local, state and federal office directly shapes our daily lives and our future. When you vote today, you’ll weigh in on:

This race - and the kind of Tennessee we want to live in - comes down to who shows up. Please make your plan, get to the polls, and bring someone with you if you can.

With gratitude,

Senator Charlane Oliver
Tennessee State Senate, District 19

I'm here at the Bordeaux Library, and I just cast my ballot for myself in the Democratic Primary for State Senate. It has been an honor to serve you, speak for you, lead you, and listen to you over the past four years.

I humbly ask for your vote to continue fighting for your voice and your needs in the Tennessee State Senate.

We still have work to do to secure economic justice, protect our rights and freedoms, and build affordable, thriving communities in Nashville.

Tomorrow is the last day to early vote in the August 6th primary. Be sure to bring your photo ID, pull a Democratic ballot, and let's get it done! 💪🏾

Find Your Voting Precinct

In Service,

Senator Charlane Oliver
#ThePeoplesSenator 💜💛❤️

Let me start with the ask: Can you chip in to support my work?

Even if it’s $1. Even though I’m running unopposed this cycle. Even if you’ve never set foot in Senate District 19.

I know that sounds backwards, so let me tell you why it’s important to fund your champions. I don’t do this legislative work for one election cycle. I’ve been fighting the good fight long before I had a title, and I’ll do it long after any single race is decided.

On May 7th, I stood on my desk on the Senate floor and sang the Black National Anthem during our special session designed to draw us out of power. I did that because the right to vote, to elect the voices we want to represent us in the halls of power, is not negotiable - not in Tennessee, not anywhere. And the Republican supermajority noticed.

They sought financial retribution and now they’re coming for my seat, too. I’m hearing rumblings of more gerrymandering aimed at redrawing lines to make bold, unbought voices like mine disappear. Silence one, warn the rest.

Here’s the thing they can’t stop. A movement isn’t measured only in dollars. It’s measured in people. Every single donation — $1, $5, whatever you can afford to give — is a signal that says: Senator Oliver doesn’t answer to corporate PACs and the billionaire class or even weak attempts to silence my dissent, she answers to us. When you give to my campaign, you’re not funding an election. You’re investing in my leadership to show up unapologetically, organize effectively, and lead an agenda that actually works for everyday Tennesseans. That’s a fight without a finish line, and it’s one we win together.

So this August, I’m inviting you into three different rooms. Different communities, different conversations with one shared purpose. Come to one. And if you can’t come, give anyway.

Bourbon & Brotherhood
Calling all Black men!

A cigar and bourbon tasting experience curated exclusively for and about Black men, hosted by “The Whiskey and Cigar Chic” Christy Pruitt-Haynes and A. Dexter Samuels. Come sip, smoke, and engage in an important dialogue of what’s on your mind. Your questions get answered, your concerns get heard by me.

Sunday, August 2
3:00–5:30 PM
Pressed and Aged Cigar & Vinyl Bar
15551 Old Hickory Blvd, Nashville, TN 37211

Join the Conversation

Women Stand Together for Charlane
Calling all women!

On the anniversary of Tennessee’s ratification of the 19th Amendment, I’m inviting women, regardless of your zip code or background, to help me launch Stand Together Tennessee on a virtual call, featuring some of the fiercest women leading the fight for democracy:

• LaTosha Brown, Co-Founder of Black Voters Matter Fund

• Muthoni Wambu Kraal, Co-Founder and CEO, Women’s Democracy Action

• Erin Vilardi, Founder and CEO, Vote Run Lead Action

• Liuba Grechen Shirley, Founder and CEO, Vote Mama PAC

Tuesday, August 18
6:00–8:00 PM
Virtual — RSVP for the link

Stand Together with Charlane!

Williamson County for Charlane

Hosted by Claire Jones, Courtenay Rogers, Damon Rogers, Jody Barnwell Smith, and Dr. LaRhonda Williams, join me in Williamson County to hear how we take this fight statewide.

Monday, August 24
5:00–7:00 PM
Home of Claire Jones (address provided upon RSVP)

Contribute

As always, a donation is not required to attend any of my events, but I’m most grateful if you do.

Can you join me in August?

In service,
Senator Charlane Oliver

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It’s July 14th, and early voting starts in three days. Mark your calendars now, because this primary decides a lot more than people realize.

Early voting runs Friday, July 17 through Saturday, August 1, 2026. Election Day is Thursday, August 6, 2026 — the State & Federal Primary and County General.

That’s not a lot of runway, so I want every one of you to have a plan before it’s here.

Here’s why I’m asking you to circle those dates today: this is a primary, which means it’s where the field actually gets narrowed. The candidates who win their party’s primary in August are the only ones you’ll get to choose between in November. Skip the primary, and you’re letting everyone else decide which names make it onto your November ballot — and that ballot is longer than most people realize:

• Governor — an open seat for the first time in years

• U.S. Senate

• U.S. House — every one of Tennessee’s seats

• State Senate — half the chamber, including my seat, District 19

• State House — every seat

• County and local offices — including school board seats that decide how your kids’ schools are funded and run, and judicial seats that decide how the law gets applied in your own courtroom

That’s the “longest ballot you’ve never seen,” and I mean that literally. Most people scroll past everything below the top of the ticket. But the down-ballot races are often the ones that shape your life the most directly — the state legislature is where child care rules, school funding, healthcare access, and housing policy actually get written and voted on, bill by bill, the same way the Child Care Red Tape Reduction Act became law this month. Election information can be a lot. So I’ve linked a one stop shop for everything you’ll need to know about the upcoming election below:

Election Information

Why this primary matters so much

Primaries get even lower turnout than midterms, and that’s exactly the problem. Lower turnout means every single vote carries more weight, for better or worse. A primary decided by a few hundred votes can determine who represents an entire party on the November ballot, and from there, who holds the power to write the state budget, draw legislative maps, and decide what comes up for a vote for the next two to four years. If we sit this one out, we’re not staying neutral. We’re just handing that decision to whoever does show up. Can’t make it to the polls in person? No problem, you still have time to make your voice heard. The deadline to request your absentee ballot for the August election is Monday, July 27th. Don’t wait until the last minute, request yours today and vote from wherever you are.

Absentee Ballot Request

I’m on the ballot for re-election in District 19 this year, and it’s a record I’m proud to run on. In this term, I passed the Affordable Housing bill (SB1137), the Child Care Red Tape Reduction Act, and the Norma Jean Upshaw Act. And I’ve been fighting to get the Eliminate the Grocery Tax Act, the Homes Not Hedge Funds Act, the Universal Pre-K Funding Act, and the Homebuyer Harassment Prevention Act across the finish line too. That’s the work a State Senate seat actually does, and it’s exactly why I need you to show up for this primary, whether or not you live in District 19.

Make a plan to vote between July 17 and August 1.

Early voting is the easiest way to make sure your voice counts. No lines, no waiting until the last minute, no risk of something coming up on Election Day itself. Show up early, bring a friend, and vote all the way down the ballot, not just the top of it.

Talk soon,

Senator Charlane Oliver

P.S. — If you know someone who’s never voted in a midterm before, send them this post. That’s how we grow turnout: one conversation at a time.

It’s July 1st, and that means a slew of Tennessee bills passed by the legislature are becoming law today.

I’m pleased to announced that my legislation, the Tennessee Child Care Red Tape Reduction Act, passed unanimously through the General Assembly — making it faster, cheaper, and simpler for child care businesses to open and working families to access quality care sooner.

The Tennessee Child Care Red Tape Reduction Act (SB2509), sponsored by Sen. Charlane Oliver, D-Nashville, and Rep. Harold Love Jr., D-Nashville, takes effect today, cutting through years of duplicative inspections and patchwork rules that have made it harder to open new child care facilities across the state.

The law, built on findings from a January 2025 TACIR report on regulatory barriers facing Tennessee’s child care industry, gives the State Fire Marshal exclusive authority over licensure fire inspections, eliminates conflicting layers of state and local review, and requires a publicly posted, standardized inspection checklist.

It also expedites permitting approval process by setting a 90-day deadline for local governments to act on child care permit applications — treating them with the same urgency as affordable housing projects — and makes child care a use by right in any zone that already allows office, commercial, industrial, or institutional use.

“For too long, the people trying to open child care centers in our communities have been stuck waiting on permits while the need for care kept growing,” said Rep. Love. “This law puts a deadline on that wait and gives providers a fair, predictable process. It’s a commonsense fix that helps working families across Tennessee.”

The new law protects local control over zoning and building codes as well as traffic and parking standards. Child care providers must still pass all required state fire safety and licensing inspections before opening.

Collaborative Governance in Action

The Tennessee Child Care Red Tape Reduction Act was directly inspired by family child care providers across Tennessee our office worked with over the past year to craft this legislation. From the monthly virtual coalition calls to our first Family Child Care Advocacy Day at the Capitol, this legislation reflects the needs and concerns of educators and advocates who deeply care for the early learners and working families in Tennessee.

A special thanks goes out to Senator Oliver’s legislative staff, NAFCC, AWAKE, Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center, Raphah Institute, Lenise Parker, Zoe Jamil, and family child care advocates across Tennessee.

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Today is the day. Join me and community leaders for the North Nashville Town Hall on the Fisk Data Center Proposal, and the deeper conversation about how we secure the future of our neighborhood and one of our most sacred institutions.

📅 Monday, June 29, 2026

🕡 6:30 – 8:00 PM CST

📍 Lee Chapel AME Church, 1200 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208

Hosted by the NAACP Nashville Branch, alongside Rep. Harold Love Jr., Council member Brandon Taylor, Fisk University, and myself.

Bring your questions. Bring your ideas. This is where we begin the hard conversation about how we save Fisk without sacrificing the neighborhood that loves her.

👉 REGISTER NOW: https://www.naacpnashville.org/event-details/north-nashville-community-townhall

Can’t make it in person? Watch the livestream on my Facebook (facebook.com/senatorcharlaneoliver) and YouTube (@senatorcharlaneoliver) pages.

See you tonight.

In service,

Senator Charlane Oliver

The People’s Senator

North Nashville knows what it means to have its future decided for us.

We are the community that Interstate 40 cut in half. We have watched gentrification price out the families who built these blocks, and we have lived the long arithmetic of disinvestment — the dollars that went everywhere but here. So when word came that a data center could rise in the heart of 37208, the anger and the anxiety were not an overreaction. They are core memories. They are earned.

Fisk University has announced “Quantum Leap,” the most ambitious campus plan in its 160-year history. Part of that plan is a proposed Innovation Center that would include a data center, right here in the heart of 37208.

Since that announcement, I’ve heard from many of you. But I want you to be heard by Fisk, too. So join me and community leaders THIS MONDAY at 6:30 p.m. for a North Nashville Town Hall on the Fisk Data Center Proposal.

REGISTER NOW

Let me be honest with you, because you deserve nothing less. I do not believe Black and underinvested communities should keep absorbing the environmental cost of other people’s progress. The pollution, the strain on our water and power, the health burden that always seems to land on the same zip codes. Those harms are real, and I will not pretend this is a tidy debate with two equal sides. It isn’t.

And yet I owe you the full truth of where I sit. I represent Fisk University — one of the oldest and most sacred HBCUs in this nation and the oldest institution in Nashville — and I have real relationships with its leadership, as your senator is supposed to. Fisk is facing a genuine financial reckoning. Like so many of our HBCUs, it has been asked to do generational work on starvation funding. I am fighting this exact battle over the historic underfunding of Tennessee State University.

So here is the question I cannot stop asking — the one underneath this entire fight:

With or without a data center, how do we secure the long-term sustainability and survival of this culturally irreplaceable institution for another 160 years?

That is the real issue. The data center is a symptom of a deeper wound: we have never properly invested in the Black institutions that raised us. If we only fight the symptom, we will be right back here again at the next proposal, the next crisis, the next hard bargain a starved institution feels forced to make.

This town hall is where we begin that harder, truer conversation. Bring your questions. Bring your ideas for how we save Fisk without sacrificing the neighborhood that loves her.

I am not here to sell you anything. I am here to listen, to learn the truth, and to fight the fight that actually matters.

📅 Monday, June 29, 2026
🕡 6:30 – 8:00 PM CST
📍 Lee Chapel AME Church, 1200 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208

Hosted by the NAACP Nashville Branch, alongside Rep. Harold Love Jr., Councilmember Brandon Taylor, Fisk University, and me — those of us who actually represent this zip code.

REGISTER HERE

Can’t make it? Watch the livestream on my Facebook and YouTube pages.

In service,
Senator Charlane Oliver
The People’s Senator

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We’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to join us at multiple events. Whether you’re greeting attendees, helping with activities, or just bringing your energy and spirit, every hand makes a difference.

Here’s the deal: Juneteenth is one of the most important days on the calendar. Juneteenth sparked celebrations that have echoed through generations. It is important that we honor that history by showing up and honoring the people that fought to make this day possible.

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🗓️ Day of Action with Team Oliver: Juneteenth 2026

📍 Olive Branch Missionary Baptist Church | 938 Havenhill Drive, Nashville, TN 37217 | 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm

📍 Juneteenth615 at Centennial Park | 2500 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203 | 5:00 pm - 9:30 pm

This is bigger than a campaign. It’s about the future of our state, and every door knocked, every conversation had, every vote earned matters.

Don’t sit this one out. The time is NOW.

See you out there,

State Senator Charlane Oliver

P.S. — Share this with a friend who’s ready to make a difference. The more the merrier!

I’m coming to you with some real numbers and a real ask.

Thanks to an incredible Host Committee and supporters like you, we’ve raised $7,935 toward our $10,000 goal for tomorrow’s Post-Legislative Session Fundraiser. That means we are $2,065 away from crossing the finish line — and the event is today.

If you’ve been meaning to show up for this campaign, now is your moment. Whether you can give $25, $100, or more, every dollar before tomorrow at 6:00 PM counts.

DONATE NOW

This fundraiser matters for a simple reason: I don’t take corporate PAC money. What fuels this campaign is you — people who believe Tennessee deserves a senator who answers to constituents, not special interests with an agenda.

So join us this afternoon. There’s still time to attend if you’re calendar is open.

Post-Legislative Session Fundraiser
📅 Wednesday, June 17th
⏰4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
📍 21 Platform Way South, Suite 3500, Nashville, TN 37203

RSVP: alandra@triumphstrategies.com | 615.498.8283

Thank You to Our Host Committee

None of this happens without the people who stepped up first. A heartfelt thank you to our incredible Host Committee:

🏅 HOSTS Sara K. Morgan · Katie Lentile

🏅 CO-HOST Charles K. Grant

🏅 SUPPORTER Allison Acker · Shayna Abrams · Margaret Behm · Angela Bergman · Hal Cato · Tillman Payne

🏅 FRIEND Emily Burrows · Alicia Cottrell · Anne Marie Farmer · Glenn Funk · Robert Green · Hon. Bob Mendes · Sabina Mohyuddin · Junaid Odebeko · Jason Palmer · Hon. Jeff Preptit · Sharon Roberson · John Spragens · Brian Winfrey · Sen. Jeff Yarbro

These names represent some of Nashville’s top attorneys in our legal community, and I’m honored to have their support!

If you can’t make it this afternoon but want to show your support, please consider a contribution. We are this close.

DONATE NOW

With gratitude,

Senator Charlane Oliver

The dedication ceremony for the Senator Thelma Harper Highway is happening this Saturday — and we’d love to see you there.

This ceremony is a chance to honor a woman who gave so much to our city and whose legacy continues to shape our community.

RSVP LINK

📍 Please note the updated location:

📚 Bordeaux Library

📅 Saturday, June 6th

⏰ 10:00 AM

We hope you’ll join us for this meaningful tribute. See you there!

Tennessee is at a critical moment, and your voice matters.

Join Senator Charlane Oliver and Representative Justin J. Pearson tonight at 6:00 PM CST for a special Instagram Live conversation: “Fight for Tennessee.”

This important discussion will cover the issues impacting our communities, what’s happening at the State Capitol, and how Tennesseans can get involved in shaping the future of our state.

Date: Tonight, June 1, 2026

Time 6:00 PM CST/7:00 PM EST

Location: Instagram Live

Whether you’re concerned about voting rights, public education, healthcare, economic opportunity, or the future of democracy in Tennessee, this conversation is for you.

Bring your questions, invite your friends and family, and join us as we discuss how we can continue building a stronger, more equitable Tennessee for all.

We look forward to seeing you online tonight!

In Service,

Senator Charlane Oliver
Tennessee State Senate

Hey Friends:

I want to share an update on what happened this week, what it means, how you can support me, and where we go from here.

But first — thank you from the bottom of my heart. The love, the prayers, the texts, the calls — you have made sure I don’t have to carry this battle alone.

My head is bloody. But it is unbowed.

So here’s what happened: On May 7th, I stood on my desk on the Tennessee Senate floor in protest because I could not sit quietly and act as if we were doing business as usual while Republicans rammed through a racially discriminatory redistricting map designed to erase Black political power in Tennessee.

I had spent three days doing everything the rules allowed, making statements on the floor, making legal arguments, and building the record for a federal lawsuit. And when they passed those racist maps anyway, something in me said: your actions have to match your words.

So I stood on my desk.

I held up my sign. I sang ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ with pride and dignity. Not as a stunt but to bear witness as proof that someone in that chamber refused to be complicit.

And Lt. Governor Randy McNally punished me for it.

On Wednesday, I received a letter handing down the harshest punishment my Republican colleagues could muster. They removed me from the Senate Government Operations Committee — the only committee that meets and pays year-round. They cut the compensation I rely on to do this work between sessions. They eliminated funding for me to attend legislative conferences outside Tennessee, cutting me off from the national coalitions that help me fight for our communities.

So what does all that mean?

Let me keep it real with you. As a Tennessee state senator, I make approximately $28,000 a year. I work full-time hours for part-time pay. Per diems cover food, lodging, and gas when I’m traveling for my constituents.

When lawmakers are out of legislative session, the bulk of our time is spent traveling - to legislative conferences, across our districts for community events, and across the state doing town halls and voter outreach. While other legislators will get reimbursed by the State, I will have to self-fund the work of showing up through my campaign.

They are not just punishing me. They are trying to make standing up too expensive to sustain.

But here is where they overplayed their hand. Republicans think cutting my pay will stifle my fight. It won’t. Since they’ve restricted me from going to work, I’ve got free time to make sure I’m a problem for them between now and November.

Ways to Support

Many of you have asked how you can support me. I hope to have more concrete information on that soon. But in the meantime, I ask you to get serious about the fight we find ourselves in. You sent me to the legislature to speak truth to power and stand up for vulnerable working class folks. I cannot do that work if I cannot afford to show up. We can’t cheer our elected officials on but then disappear when the retribution comes.

If you want us to bring the fight, then you must fund the fighters on the frontlines.

STAND WITH SENATOR OLIVER

Here is how you can help right now. Two things.

• One: Go to OliverForTNSenate.com and contribute whatever your heart leads you to give. I don’t accept corporate PAC money — Never have. My integrity is not for sale. That means every dollar that comes is powered by people like you, and every dollar invested in my leadership goes to sustaining the fight, showing up unapologetically, and organizing to break up the Republican Supermajority.

• Two: Share this email. The country is just now learning my name and what I stand for. Help me make sure they understand this isn’t just about me. It’s about every state where Black voters are being silenced, every community where the maps are being rigged, every person who needs to know that the fight for democracy is happening right here in the South.

Tennessee is ground zero for MAGA and Project 2025. But Tennessee has always been the birthplace of the resistance.

We need to sound the alarm that the battle for a better country, for a better Tennessee, the battle for voting rights, fair wages, universal healthcare, lower grocery prices, affordable childcare, well-funded public schools, is in the South. It has always been right here in the South and we must invest in it.

You may not live in Tennessee, but what happens here affects you directly. The maps drawn here affect the balance of Congress. The organizing model built here is the blueprint for every Southern battleground state. When you fund my fight, you are not funding one senator in one state. You are funding proof that resistance works and that it can be sustained.

This fight is bigger than a committee assignment. Bigger than a paycheck. It is about whether our communities keep a voice. It is about whether Black political power can be erased whenever it becomes inconvenient. It is about whether democracy is something we defend or something we surrender.

They can take my committee seat. They can cut my pay. They can even misspell my name.

But they cannot make me back down.

Join me on Monday, June 1st at 6PM for an Instagram Live with Rep. Justin J. Pearson, candidate for Congress in Congressional District 9. We’re going to talk about what organized people — not isolated outrage — looks like in this moment and how you can plug into movements already in motion.

And please check your registration status and what district you’re in and mark November 3rd on your calendar. The power has always been with the people. What happens next is on all of us.

In solidarity,

Senator Charlane Oliver

STAND WITH SENATOR OLIVER

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Yesterday afternoon, I received a letter from Lt. Governor Randy McNally outlining punitive measures against me for standing up — quite literally — for the people of Tennessee.

Tennessee Republicans made the unprecedented decision to break state law and rig congressional maps to silence Black voters in Memphis. It was the most brazen attack on Black political representation this nation has seen since Jim Crow. This act of cowardice was done swiftly, in an effort to steal a House seat in Congress so that Donald Trump can continue evading punishment for his crimes.

That abuse of power demands resistance. I knew there would be consequences for standing up for what is right but there was never a question about which side of history I would stand on.

Let me be clear: I will not be silenced. I will not be intimidated. And I will never apologize for fighting for the Tennesseans who sent me to the Senate chamber.

The actions I took on May 7th were not a violation of decorum. They were a direct response to a majority party that has systematically stripped Black communities of fair representation through gerrymandered, racially discriminatory redistricting maps. When the rules of the chamber are used to protect the powerful and silence the marginalized, standing on that desk is the least I can do.

I’m reminded of the words of Congressman John Lewis: “When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have a moral obligation to say something. Do something. Get in trouble, good trouble, necessary trouble.”

If there was ever a moment that demanded taking the ultimate stand, it is when Black voting rights - the rights that secure all other rights - are under attack.

Reassigning my committee seat, restricting my per diem, and cutting off my travel reimbursements will not change the facts: the redistricting of our congressional districts was wrong, it was calculated, it was vindictive, and it will have consequences for every Tennessean who believes in a government that truly represents the people.

History has always been made by those willing to disrupt the comfort of the status quo in pursuit of justice. I remain committed to my constituents and building a Tennessee that works for everyone — not just those with unchecked power.

This fight is far from over.

Next time, spell my name right.

Many of you have asked me how can you support me during this time. When we’re out of legislative session, the bulk of our time is spent traveling - to legislative conferences, across our districts for community events, and across the state doing town halls and supporting Dem candidates running in red districts. While other legislators will get reimbursed by the State, my travel will now have to be self-funded by my campaign.

YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE HERE

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You are cordially invited to witness history.

The Honorable Charlane Oliver requests the honor of your presence at the

SENATOR THELMA HARPER HIGHWAY DEDICATION CEREMONY

Join us as we dedicate a portion of Clarksville Highway in lasting tribute to a trailblazer, a barrier-breaker, and a beloved servant of the people — Senator Thelma Harper.

📅 Saturday, June 6
⏰ 10:00 AM CST
📍3930 Clarksville Pike, Nashville, Tennessee ( Just in the front of Kroger parking lot, see the grey building)

This momentous occasion marks more than the renaming of a road — it is a permanent testament etched into the landscape of our community, honoring a woman whose legacy of courage, service, and dedication has paved the way for generations to come.

In honor of Senator Harper, all attendees are encouraged to dress in RED as a bold, unified show of love and respect.

Please confirm your attendance by registering below.

Confirm Your Attendance

Seating and space will be limited, so your prompt RSVP is greatly appreciated. This is a community celebration — there will be music, speakers, lite bites, and giveaways while they last. Bring your family, your neighbors, and your pride.

Together, let us ensure that every time someone travels this highway, they travel in the footsteps of greatness.

With deep appreciation and community pride,

The Office of the Honorable Charlane Oliver

—

*Parking is available in the Kroger lot at 3930 Clarksville Pike. Overflow parking is available at West Hamilton Plaza, 3518 W Hamilton Ave. This event is open to the public.*

RSVP

Join Senator Charlane Oliver for a Post-Special Session Fundraiser

Senator Oliver ‘stood on business’ - literally - and stood up for for Black voting rights during this month’s special session to redraw congressional maps and silence the voices of Memphis voters. Now, it’s time to show your appreciation for her fearless, tenacious fight for our community.

Join host Sara K. Morgan and friends for a Post-Special Session Fundraiser on Wednesday, June 17 at Bass, Berry & Sims law firm from 4:30-6:00 p.m. Attendance is not required to contribute.

Funds help fuel Senator Oliver’s re-election campaign and keeps her showing up boldly and consistently for Senate District 19.

Register / Contribute

Senator Oliver Appears on the ‘Refuse Fascism’ Podcast

Listen: White Power Grab: Tennessee’s Assault on Black Voting Rights with Sen. Oliver & Rep. Johnson

Episode 292: This week on the pod, Sam speaks to members of the Tennessee state legislature about the state’s immediate redistricting designed to disempower Black communities in response to the SCOTUS overturning of the VRA, including Sen. Charlane Oliver (who stood on her desk in the chamber with a banner reading “No Jim Crow 2.0” during proceedings) and Rep Gloria Johnson.

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