Rachel Robinson of Cookeville announced last week that she is launching a formal write-in campaign in the race for the 6th District congressional seat against Diane Black.
Robinson visited DeKalb County last Wednesday to alert the local media to her plans.
Robinson told the Review she felt the people of the 6th District needed an option in the November race, and that she felt the call to be the Democratic voice to oppose Black.
In announcing her candidacy, Robinson addressed the reasons she felt compelled to enter the race.
“Watching national news coverage of the recent Republican primary, I was angry and embarrassed,” Robinson said in a prepared statement. “This area deserves so much better than being an example of the worst in national politics. At a time when people are fed up with the un-ending partisan gridlock in Washington, our Congresswoman is running on the fact that she’s the most extreme Congress member of all.
“So many people I spoke with shared my sentiment,” she continued. “We were frustrated there was no Democrat on the ballot. We were frustrated with the job Diane Black has been doing. We were frustrated that our Congressional race was a national joke, but most importantly, we were frustrated that we felt like we didn’t have anyone fighting for us.”
In her announcement, Robinson expressed opposition to Black’s support of the Ryan Budget, which would end Medicare as it currently exists, and expressed special disbelief that the Congresswoman had failed to introduce or vote for a single jobs bill during her entire tenure in Congress.
“I work three jobs to make ends meet,” Robinson said. “I buy my own health insurance, because none of those three jobs provide it. The fact that our Congresswoman has done nothing in two years to bring new, quality jobs to our district is completely unacceptable.”
While acknowledging that her campaign will be tough, Robinson also expressed that she had full belief in the benefits of running.
“The many ignored people in the 6th District deserve a voice, and if I can, I will give that to them. Representing people in Congress is about more than being an activist with an agenda; it’s about being an advocate,” she said.
Robinson grew up in Cookeville and attended Cookeville High School.
After graduation, she attended the University of Memphis where she pursued both undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Upon returning to Cookeville, she began work as an adjunct instructor at both Volunteer State’s Livingston Campus and Tennessee Technological University, where she currently teaches English Composition.
In addition, she is pursuing her EdS degree from TTU and serves her church as the Director of Children’s and Youth Ministries.
Engaged in her community throughout her life, Robinson currently volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, and she participates in many other community events and organizations including WCTE-TV’s Great TV Auction, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, and the Cookeville Fall Fun Fest.