The Tennessee Democratic Party is in the same place today as the state Republican Party was for most of the 20th century - in a deep minority.
Only five of Tennessee's 33 state senators and only 26 of 99 state representatives are Democrats.
State Senate Minority Leader Lee Harris of Memphis and state Sen. Jeff Yarbro want to do something about that, so they are being intentional on ramping up their communication with constituents around the state and with media outlets willing to listen.
Harris, in a meeting with Chattanooga Times Free Press editors and reporters earlier this week, referred to his party as the "new Democratic Party."
While he didn't define what "new" meant, the pair made it clear that the party didn't have a "cut and dried answer" on any issue, was open to having a "discussion about each thing" and that "Democrats were not for more government."
While they were quick to spout the usual tired liberal rhetoric about Republicans living in the 1850s and 1860s, about Republicans still fighting Roe vs. Wade and about the Koch brothers holding sway over Tennessee politics, they nevertheless praised Gov. Bill Haslam for his education efforts and his Insure Tennessee plan.
Insure Tennessee, which Yarbro said was the "No. 1 issue facing the state," was a pilot program supported by this page that would have covered nearly 300,000 working Volunteer State residents who couldn't otherwise get affordable insurance. However, it was defeated in a committee vote and never reached the discussion stage in either chamber of the General Assembly.
Harris and Yarbro are genial, say correctly that people in both parties believe politicians are "ignoring the problems people actually face" and seem sincere about working with Republicans on bipartisan solutions. A Republican super majority can ignore them for now, but a too-smug GOP is also one ripe for a fall.