Written by: JR Robinson

Dr. Carnita Atwater’s campaign for governor of Tennessee is more than a political bid-it is a powerful narrative of resilience, service, and a challenge to the status quo. As a Black woman running for the state’s highest office, Atwater stands at the intersection of history, identity, and the urgent needs of everyday Tennesseans. Her story, platform, and candidacy offer a compelling vision for voters across the political spectrum, inviting both Democrats and Republicans to reconsider what leadership can and should look like in the Volunteer State.

Roots of Resilience: From Clarksdale to Memphis

Atwater’s journey begins in Clarksdale, Mississippi, a place marked by deep Southern roots and the realities of rural poverty. She moved to Memphis at age 12, bringing with her the lessons of perseverance learned in a household where, as she recalls, “everybody in the house took a bath in a number three washtub” and “we used a slop jar and had to empty it in the outhouse.” These early experiences of deprivation and community shaped her lifelong commitment to service and advocacy.

By age 12, Atwater was already an entrepreneur, asking her father for a John Deere lawnmower instead of toys so she could start her own business mowing lawns. Her drive and work ethic propelled her through a career that would span education, healthcare, and community development. She earned degrees in nursing, community health education, and healthcare management, and served as a dean of medical studies, academic dean, and medical director. Atwater’s professional path reflects not just ambition, but a profound belief in the power of education and opportunity.

Community Leadership and Advocacy

Atwater’s impact in Memphis is most visible in her work as a community leader and advocate. She founded and leads the New Chicago Community Development Corporation, tirelessly championing investment and revitalization in North Memphis, an area long neglected after the closure of the Firestone tire factory. Her vision for New Chicago was bold-encompassing a five-star resort, an African village, and a community adventure park. While some city officials questioned the feasibility of her plans, Atwater’s advocacy forced the city to confront the realities of blight and poverty in her neighborhood.

She also owns and operates the Kukutana African American History and Cultural Museum, a testament to her dedication to preserving and celebrating Black history and culture in Memphis. Through these initiatives, Atwater has not only provided tangible resources-food, clothing, and support during natural disasters-but has also given voice to communities too often left out of political and economic decision-making.

A Record of Radical Compassion: Foster Parenting and Philanthropy

Perhaps most remarkable is Atwater’s personal commitment to children and families. Over the years, she has fostered 92 children from diverse backgrounds-Latino, Asian, African American, and white-creating what she describes as a “United Nations” in her own home. Her motivation was simple: to give children a better quality of life, regardless of their circumstances. This experience, she says, gives her a unique rapport with young people and a deep understanding of the challenges facing low-income families in Tennessee.

Atwater’s philanthropy extends beyond her home. She has fed and clothed the poor, advocated for the homeless, and stood with marginalized communities in times of crisis. Her grassroots approach is not just rhetoric-it is a lived practice of radical compassion and solidarity.

The “Resurrection of Hope”: Atwater’s Vision for Tennessee

Atwater’s campaign is anchored in what she calls the “Resurrection of Hope,” a sweeping platform built on the conviction that budgets are moral documents and that every Tennessean deserves a seat at the table. Her priorities reflect both progressive ideals and pragmatic solutions, aimed at uniting rather than dividing the state.

Key Components of Atwater’s Platform:

• Inclusive Economic Development: Atwater emphasizes the importance of supporting small businesses and ensuring that economic growth benefits all communities, not just the wealthy or large corporations. She advocates for community benefit agreements, requiring that new businesses invest in local neighborhoods and employ local residents.
• Workforce Development and Youth Empowerment: Drawing from her own experience in trade programs as a youth, Atwater proposes robust training initiatives for young people, equipping them with skills in carpentry, electrical work, and other trades. She envisions a succession plan to prepare the next generation of leaders, ensuring that opportunity is not limited by background or zip code.
• Addressing Poverty and Food Insecurity: With Tennessee facing high rates of child poverty, Atwater pledges to release withheld funds for food assistance and to prioritize the needs of low-income families in state budgets.
• Criminal Justice Reform: Atwater is outspoken about the need to address political and judicial corruption, eliminate qualified immunity for police and judges, and dismantle the private prison system. She is particularly critical of CoreCivic, a private prison company operating in Tennessee, and calls for an end to profiting from incarceration.
• Environmental Justice: She promises to hold companies accountable for environmental harm and to invest in sustainable agriculture, supporting local farmers with access to solar and wind technology.
• Healthcare and Social Services: Atwater’s background in healthcare informs her commitment to expanding access to quality care, addressing maternal mortality, and ensuring that social services reach the most vulnerable.
• Bridging the Political Divide: Atwater insists that she is “the people’s governor,” committed to working with Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and others. Her relationships span the political spectrum, and she believes that real progress comes from putting people-not parties-at the center of politics.

The Political Landscape: Challenges and Opportunities

Atwater’s candidacy is historic-she was the first African American woman to run for governor in Tennessee, a state that has never elected a Black woman to its highest office. The barriers she faces are formidable. Tennessee is a deeply conservative state, with Republicans holding a supermajority in the General Assembly and recent elections reaffirming the state’s rightward trajectory. Democrats have struggled to flip seats, and the political climate is often inhospitable to progressive candidates, especially those from marginalized backgrounds.

Moreover, Black women face unique challenges in American politics. Despite increasing numbers of Black women running for office, none have ever served as governor in any state, and only two have been elected to the U.S. Senate. The obstacles are not just political, but cultural-rooted in centuries of exclusion and discrimination.

Yet Atwater’s previous campaign for governor demonstrated her ability to mobilize support. Running a grassroots campaign with minimal funding, little media exposure, and no traditional campaign paraphernalia, she still garnered over 56,000 votes in the Democratic primary. Her message resonated with voters hungry for change and representation.

A Message for All Tennesseans: Bridging the Divide

Atwater’s story and platform offer points of connection for both Democrats and Republicans. For Democrats, her commitment to social justice, economic equity, and community empowerment aligns with core progressive values. Her focus on poverty, healthcare, and criminal justice reform addresses the most pressing issues facing marginalized communities.

For Republicans and independents, Atwater’s emphasis on small business development, workforce training, and local control speaks to values of entrepreneurship, self-reliance, and community engagement. Her insistence on fiscal responsibility-ensuring that budgets serve all citizens, not just the wealthy-resonates with those concerned about government accountability and efficiency.

Above all, Atwater’s approach is grounded in a belief that politics should serve people, not parties. She is unapologetically independent, willing to work across the aisle and prioritize the common good over partisan interests.

The Battle Ahead: Breaking Barriers and Building Coalitions

The path to the governor’s mansion will not be easy. Atwater faces entrenched political opposition, limited resources, and the weight of history. But her candidacy is a rallying cry for those who believe that Tennessee can be a place of opportunity, justice, and shared prosperity.

Her campaign asks voters to imagine a different kind of leadership-one that is rooted in lived experience, guided by compassion, and committed to the hard work of building bridges. It is a call to “put people back into politics,” to ensure that every Tennessean-regardless of race, class, or geography-has a voice in shaping the state’s future.

The Power of One

Dr. Carnita Atwater’s run for governor is a testament to the power of one person to challenge the odds and inspire change. Her life story-marked by struggle, service, and unyielding hope-offers a blueprint for leadership that transcends party lines and speaks to the best of Tennessee’s values.

As she puts it, “If I never win a race, I’m going to fight for the people regardless. I believe in ‘we the people,’ not we the politicians.” In a time of division and uncertainty, Atwater’s vision is a reminder that the future belongs to those willing to dream boldly, work tirelessly, and stand up for what is right-no matter the cost.

“Making Tennessee great again means that you have to connect with the people and put people back into politics. But let’s keep in mind making Tennessee great again and making America great again. But some people have never been great again. So I want to be that person to pull all people along and put people at the seat of prosperity.”
- Dr. Carnita Atwater

Key Issues Facing Tennessee

Dr. Carnita Atwater’s campaign is more than a political contest-it is a movement for dignity, equity, and hope. Whether or not she prevails, her candidacy has already expanded the possibilities for what leadership in Tennessee can mean.