State Rep. Gloria Johnson during the special legislative session in August
State Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) is officially kicking off her bid for U.S. Senate on Tuesday with stops in Knoxville, Nashville and Memphis.
Johnson filed paperwork allowing her to begin raising money for the effort last month. She told Scene sister publication the Nashville Post in May that she was "definitely considering" a run.
The Democratic primary also features Memphis environmental activist Marquita Bradshaw, who won the nomination in 2020 before losing to now-Sen. Bill Hagerty. Either nominee would face an uphill battle in 2024 against incumbent Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn.
Johnson, a former teacher, was first elected to the state House in 2012, and her profile has risen significantly in recent years. House Republicans moved to expel Johnson from the legislature earlier this year though failed by a single vote. At the same time, the House did expel Democratic Reps. Justin Jones of Nashville and Justin Pearson of Memphis, who — along with Johnson — became known nationally as the "Tennessee Three." Both Pearson and Jones were scheduled to appear alongside Johnson during her Tuesday launch.
