Dear Washington County Democrats,
As we step into 2026, I want to be clear-eyed and grounded. This is not a quiet moment in our politics. At the federal and state levels, we are seeing instability, hard-right overreach, and decisions that erode trust in government and weaken everyday people’s lives and our democracy. Locally, these same pressures manifest in very real ways, from extractive crypto proposals that threaten neighborhoods to reckless rezoning efforts and the lingering damage of judicial settlements.
And yet, this is also a moment of real opportunity.
In Washington County, Democrats have demonstrated that effective organizing is possible. Together, we helped stop bitcoin mining projects that would have harmed our Johnson City communities. We stood up, publicly and persistently, against bad rezoning decisions in Jonesborough. We made it clear that backroom deals and unchecked power will be challenged. Those were not symbolic wins; they were concrete proof that when people speak up, local government listens.
Now the work accelerates.
In 2026, there are 46 local races in Washington County. Forty-six chances to shift the balance, to protect our schools and neighborhoods, to defend democracy where it actually lives, at the local level. These races will not win themselves: They will require candidates, volunteers, poll workers, poll watchers, donors, and neighbors willing to have honest conversations.
The Washington County Democratic Party is ready for that fight. We are organizing earlier, training better, and building the infrastructure we need to compete everywhere, not just in a few districts. But success will depend on participation. There is no sidelines season this year. Hope is not passive. It is built through action, persistence, and showing up again and again, even when the noise is loud and the path forward feels uncertain. That is what Democrats in Washington County have done before, and that is what we will do in 2026.
Thank you for staying engaged, for holding the line, for donating, for volunteering, and for being part of a party that believes local voices matter.
Let’s get to work.
Sincerely,
Sylvain Bruni
Chair, Washington County Democratic Party
