In this blog post, we examine the policies and positions of Gloria Johnson, the Democratic Party candidate running for election to represent Tennessee in the United States Senate. Also in this series, we profile Republican candidate Marsha Blackburn.

This post is part of a series of blogs examining where 2024 Southeastern candidates for state and federal offices stand on key energy and climate issues.

Note: The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy does not support or oppose candidates or political parties. Links to reports, candidate websites and outside sources are provided as citizen education tools.

In this blog post, we examine the policies and positions of Gloria Johnson, the Democratic Party candidate running for election to represent Tennessee in the United States Senate. Also in this series, we profile Republican candidate Marsha Blackburn. Election Day is November 5, 2024.

Gloria Johnson was a special education teacher in Knoxville, Tennessee for 27 years before retiring in 2015. She ran for the District 13 seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives and won, serving as their representative for a total of three terms. After redistricting, Johnson ran in District 90 and has been their representative since 2022. Gloria Johnson gained national attention as one of the “Tennessee Three” in 2023 after she and two of her Democrat colleagues faced expulsion from the Tennessee House of Representatives for joining protesters in calling for better gun control from the House floor.

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

Rep. Johnson has spoken out against efforts to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act, the landmark federal law that is driving historic investment into clean energy. 

Climate Change

After the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to limit the EPA’s options for using the Clean Air Act to curtail carbon emissions from existing power plants, Gloria Johnson reacted by saying “Hard to believe that power and greed will make people destroy this beautiful home of ours. There is much to do to right these wrongs-I believe that we will win.” 

Electric Transportation

In 2021, Gloria Johnson celebrated the announcement of a 3,600-acre battery and vehicle manufacturing campus in West Tennessee by saying “It’s an amazing announcement. Let’s make sure this deal ends with Tennesseans producing the electric vehicles that win the marketplace with a good wage and good benefits.” 

Energy Equity and Energy Burden

In 2020, Representative Johnson expressed her support for ACT on KUB, a campaign to bring more accountability, cost-savings, and transparency for customers of utility provider Knoxville Utilities Board through an amendment to the city charter.

High-Risk Energy 

In 2013, Gloria Johnson co-sponsored the Scenic Vistas Protection Act which would have restricted permits given to companies to conduct mountaintop removal coal mining.

Voting Information 

Election Day is November 5. Here are important dates and deadlines to consider, from the Tennessee Secretary of State:

• Aug. 7, 2024: First day to make an absentee ballot request
• Oct. 7, 2024: Voter registration deadline 
• Oct. 16, 2024: In-person early voting begins
• Oct. 29, 2024: Absentee ballot request deadline
• Oct. 31, 2024: In-person early voting ends 
• Nov. 5, 2024: General Election Day 
• Nov. 5, 2024: Absentee ballot return deadline 

For more information about being a Tennessee voter, including registering, finding your polling place, and requesting an absentee ballot, visit proudvoter.org.

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