RELEASE: TIRRC Votes Endorses Mariah Phillips (HD 37), Brandon Thomas (HD 49), and Virginia Couch (HD 18) as Voters Head to the Polls

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 14, 2020

CONTACT
Hamp Price, hamp@tirrcvotes.org

 

TIRRC Votes Endorses Mariah Phillips (HD 37), Brandon Thomas (HD 49), and Virginia Couch (HD 18) as Voters Head to the Polls
The group has endorsed pro-immigrant champions up and down the ballot. 


NASHVILLE — TIRRC Votes, an organization dedicated to building political power in immigrant and refugee communities, is endorsing Mariah Phillips for House District 37 and Brandon Thomas for House District 49 in Rutherford County and Virginia Couch for House District 18 in Knox County.

The announcement comes as early voting begins across the state for the 2020 general elections.

“Immigrant voters and their progressive allies are ready to head to the polls right now in support of candidates that will unite our communities and fight for all of our families to have a fair shot,” said Lisa Sherman-Nikolaus, Executive Director of TIRRC Votes. “Our state legislature needs more voices like Mariah Phillips, Brandon Thomas, and Virginia Couch who will work tirelessly to defend our values and make sure everyone has an opportunity to thrive.”

This announcement adds to the group's previous endorsements of pro-immigrant champions up and down the ballot. To date, TIRRC Votes has endorsed:

  • Joe Biden, President and Kamala Harris, Vice President

  • Marquita Bradshaw, U.S. Senate

  • Gabby Salinas, Tennessee House District 97

  • Gloria Johnson, Tennessee House District 13

  • Mariah Phillips, Tennessee House District 37

  • Brandon Thomas, Tennessee House District 49

  • Virginia Couch, Tennessee House District 18

Read more about TIRRC Votes’s endorsed candidates here.

TIRRC Votes launched in 2018 in response to the unrelenting assault on immigrant families. For the 2018 midterm elections, the new group developed a large-scale electoral mobilization program that engaged nearly 170,000 voters, made 36,000 phone calls and knocked on nearly 19,500 doors.

In 2019, TIRRC Votes invested in the Nashville municipal elections to elect the most progressive metro council in history. Twenty-one of the group’s endorsed candidates won their races, including the historic wins of Zulfat Suara, the first Black immigrant and Muslim to serve on the council, and Sandra Sepulveda, the first Latina elected to the council. A powerful team of more than 60 canvassers knocked on over 14,000 doors and contacted more than 42,000 voters in Nashville.

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TIRRC Votes was launched in 2018 to strengthen and expand our democracy by building power in immigrant and refugee communities and advocating for equitable and inclusive public policy. TIRRC Votes is affiliated with the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC).

TIRRC Votes