PROBLEM STATEMENTS:

(a) The State of Tennessee does not belong to the Republicans, Democrats, Socialists, Independents, Libertarians, Green Party, or any other political party; it belongs to the people. Therefore, people will be my guiding force to bring effective solutions and equality to our Volunteer State. It is time for a Governor to think outside the box and have the bold fortitude and tenacity to do the right thing for Tennesseans. I cannot be bought or sold to the highest bidder.

We are stronger together, and we must stand on what our Declaration of Independence states, "all men are created equal" in its preamble (1776) as a fundamental, self-evident truth, asserting that all people possess equal moral worth and inherent, unalienable rights such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, rather than asserting that all people possess equal talents or wealth. It did not say elitist power, and it did not say inhumane control. It clearly states that power lies with the people. We must place people back into politics.

(b) The original 1787 U.S. Constitution did not explicitly include Black people as citizens and, through the Three-Fifths Compromise (Article I, Section 2), counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for congressional representation. However, post-Civil War amendments, specifically the 14th Amendment (1868), granted full citizenship to African Americans. In 2026, we are still fighting to protect immigrants in the State of Tennessee from U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). I will be committed to removing ICE from Tennessee, unequivocally.

(c) The United States is a nation of immigrants, but we have a complex history on the topic. At times, the government has tried to deport large numbers of immigrants to protect the jobs and wages of native-born Americans. The current administration has announced plans to deport all undocumented immigrants, even some legal immigrants, as well as new travel bans.

(d) ON THE HISTORY OF RESTRICTING IMMIGRATION BY CERTAIN GROUPS. America cannot restrict Latinos and bring in white Africans from South Africa. This is the hypocrisy of deportation.

(b) The problem lies with the fact that while the authors did not initially apply this to enslaved people or women, the phrase was used by figures like Abraham Lincoln and in the Declaration of Rights and Sentiments (1848) to argue for broader equality. The phrase has influenced numerous other nations' declarations of independence and remains a guiding, though often debated, principle of American identity. It is important to note that the Declaration of Independence is not a legally binding document but is recognized as one of America's founding, inspirational ideals. What is before you now in 2026 is, "Do you want a Governor of the people?"

(b) Tennesseans should not be suffering financially because of bad actors, bad decisions, and misappropriation of funds that could be for the betterment of all Tennesseans and not just billionaires making themselves richer off the egregious decisions of greedy politicians.

(c) There must be a Governor that is bold enough to stand up for the poor, working class, middle-class, farmers, neglected rural communities, urban gentrification, immigrants, incarcerated, and small business owners. There will be no separation of families on my watch. Tennessee is great because of diversity, including immigrants, the LGBTQ community, and Unions constantly fighting for the rights of Tennesseans.

(d) The fuel of hatred and mean-spiritedness stops with me. As the next potential Governor of the State of Tennessee who can relate to all walks of life, I will not let politics undermine the hope of being one of the greatest states in this country. We can turn this toxic climate around for the betterment of all Tennesseans.

The Preamble begins with "We the People," establishing that the government's authority comes directly from citizens, not states or a monarch. By limiting the federal government to specific, enumerated powers, the Constitution inherently leaves all other power with the people and the states.

As the next potential Governor of the State of Tennessee, I want to be the common ground, common-sense, rational mind, and Tennessee peacemaker to bring our beautiful state back together in the spirit of love, harmony, and solidarity. We owe that urgent collaboration to the next generations to come.

In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Emphasizing that returning hate multiplies negativity, while love is the only force capable of transforming enemies into friends.

Eleanor Roosevelt’s famous quote regarding women is: “A woman is like a tea bag, you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water.” This metaphor highlights that a woman’s true strength, resilience, and character are revealed in difficult times. Atwater wants to be the Governor who gets us out of hot water by fighting for Tennesseans. With her kind and nurturing spirit, it is her belief that she can bring the temperature down and bring all Tennesseans to the table of reasoning and God-will-for-all.

(e) THE ECONOMIC HIT THE COUNTRY WILL TAKE WITHOUT IMMIGRANT LABOR

It would be extremely painful.  We saw this under COVID when we were seeing large labor shortages. We saw huge increases in prices in a lot of produce, in particular, but also in other food products, as well.

In combination with these new tariffs, the construction industry is going to be hit really hard because the price of materials is going up, and it is the largest sector employing immigrant labor. We could see the price of new homes and new construction in general really going through the roof. This is going to spill over to a lot of other areas. If you think about native workers not wanting to take these low-wage jobs, either those jobs go unfilled, or we dramatically increase the wages that we provide for them. In either case, we will see reduced output and increased prices.

ATWATER'S GOAL AND STRATEGIES:

• My vision and mission are to bring about ONE TENNESSEE. One that is free of division, hatred, and social strife. Our foundation must be built on respect, love, and harmony amongst all Tennesseans, embracing our differences and working through these turbulent times. In my heart, I believe we can get to a healthy state for all Tennesseans.

• I stand on the Democratic principle that all diverse groups are entitled to come to America and live in the State of Tennessee; therefore, the United States was developed, populated, and built by immigrants, who have been essential to its growth, labor force, and economic development throughout its history. Immigrant labor was crucial for building critical infrastructure like railroads and canals. Today, immigrants represent over (14 %) of the population, contributing significantly to STEM fields and entrepreneurship. I welcome my cultural sisters and brothers to Tennessee to bring new ideas and diverse perspectives. Tennessee is ready to think out of the box as we embark on a Resurrection of Hope.

• I will welcome and entertain opinions and distinctions unlike my own to bring about effective change for the betterment of Tennesseans.

• I welcome all politicians who are ready for an effective and positive change for Tennessee to the table of the Resurrection of Hope.

• I will welcome all Tennesseans who have given up on the political process to the table of the Resurrection of Hope. Please do not give up. There is a new tomorrow in Tennessee!

• I will welcome all Tennesseans who are afraid of tomorrow in this state to the table of the Resurrection of Hope. Please do not give up. There is a new tomorrow in Tennessee!

• I will welcome families across the State of Tennessee who are experiencing housing disparities, food insecurities, high cost of property tax, high evictions, high cost of utilities, high cost of gas, high cost of childcare, and high cost of insurance to the table of the Resurrection of Hope.

• I welcome all politicians who are tired of the divisiveness to the table of the Resurrection of Hope.

• I welcome Millennials, Gen X, Gen Z, and Alpha to the table of the Resurrection of Hope.

• I will welcome Unions that have been fighting for Tennesseans for decades, who are under attack, to the table of the Resurrection of Hope.

• I will welcome educators who have been underpaid and disrespected for too long to the table of the Resurrection of Hope.

• I will welcome physicians, nurses, and healthcare workers to the table of the Resurrection of Hope.

• I will welcome foster care individuals who have been aged out of the system to the table of the Resurrection of Hope.

• I will welcome struggling farmers to the table of the Resurrection for Hope.

• I will welcome families living in their cars and hotels to the table of the Resurrection of Hope.

• I will work on assisting immigrants with their citizenship status through the Committee of Tennessee Immigrant Enhancement Plan & Integration Office.

• Tennessee is better with cultural diversity, and I will work with Latinos. Africans, Cubans, Haitians, Puerto Ricans, Germans, Italians, Muslims, Jews, Palestinians, and any other groups that want to call Tennessee home.

• I will welcome the urban underserved and marginalized communities who have been disinvested for decades to the table of the Resurrection of Hope.

• I will welcome homeless veterans to the table of the Resurrection for Hope.

• I will welcome the veterans who fight to receive healthcare and mental counseling to the table of the Resurrection of Hope.

• I will welcome mothers who have experienced high infant mortality to the table of the Resurrection of Hope.

• I will welcome domestic violence victims to the table of the Resurrection of Hope.

• I will welcome the LGBTQ community to the table of the Resurrection of Hope.

• I welcome the teenager living in poverty who has given up at the table of the Resurrection of Hope.

• I will welcome the small businesses that have been overlooked for decades to the table of the Resurrection of Hope.

• I will welcome mothers, fathers, husbands, and wives whose loved ones have died in the prison system for non-violent offenses to the table of the Resurrection of Hope.

• I will welcome young ideas and motivation to the table of the Resurrection of Hope.

• I will welcome parents of autistic and disabled children to the table of the Resurrection of Hope.

• I will welcome elders for guidance to the table of the Resurrection of Hope.

• I will welcome Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Socialists, Libertarians, Green Party, People's Party, and any other political parties to the table of the Resurrection of Hope.

• I will welcome the small businesses that have been overlooked for decades to the table of the Resurrection of Hope.

• I will welcome gang organizations to assist in combating this war on the streets at the table of the Resurrection of Hope.

• I will welcome ex-felons who deserve a second chance in life to the table of the Resurrection of Hope.

• I will welcome community members who are worried about being exposed to pollutants from data centers to the table of the Resurrection of Hope.

• I will welcome data centers, manufacturing companies, and corporations whose best interest is to the community, who are willing to sign a Community Benefit Agreement to protect and build up any community they develop at the table of the Resurrection of Hope.

• I will welcome all vested interest groups who will work to keep the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) public at the table of the Resurrection of Hope.

I will welcome my sisters and brothers to embrace me, as the next potential Governor of the State of Tennessee, as I implement this Resurrection of Hope Plan for all Tennesseans. Make Tennessee Whole Again! ONE TENNESSEE...