Lindsey Patrick-Wright
DemocraticQ1 Data centers and the TVA grid (Energy / AI / Environment) – Data center electricity use in the Tennessee Valley has grown roughly sevenfold since 2020, and in the Memphis area, gas turbines powering AI data centers have raised air-quality concerns. What specific policies, if any, would you support to protect Tennesseans’ electricity bills, grid reliability, and air quality as data centers expand?
I support requiring data centers to pay the full cost of the electricity and infrastructure they need, rather than passing those costs on to Tennessee families. I would push for stronger grid reliability standards, transparent energy-use reporting, and enforceable demand-response plans. I also support rigorous air-quality standards and emissions monitoring for on-site power generation. Economic development should never come at the expense of our utility bills, public health, or environment.
Q2 Childhood vaccination (Public Health / Trust in Science) – According to the Tennessee Department of Health, roughly 80% of Tennessee counties fall below the 95% kindergarten vaccination rate needed to prevent outbreaks of diseases such as measles. What policies, if any, would you support to manage vaccine-preventable diseases in Tennessee?
I support expanding access to vaccines through local health departments, school-based clinics, and public education grounded in medical evidence. With only 14 of 93 reporting counties meeting the 95% kindergarten vaccination benchmark in 2024–25, Tennessee needs to take this seriously. I support maintaining school immunization requirements, protecting appropriate medical exemptions, and strengthening public health outreach to prevent outbreaks and protect vulnerable children.
Q3 Flooding and extreme-weather resilience (Environment / Climate) – Two years after Tropical Storm Helene, East Tennessee communities are still rebuilding, and a 2026 winter storm left hundreds of thousands of Tennesseans without power. What specific steps, if any, would you take to prepare Tennessee’s communities, infrastructure, and power grid for severe weather?
Tennessee needs to invest in resilience before the next disaster, not just recovery afterward. I would prioritize hardening vulnerable power infrastructure, expanding backup power for hospitals and emergency shelters, improving stormwater systems, and strengthening emergency communications. I would also push for better coordination among utilities and local emergency managers, with transparent outage updates and plans to protect vulnerable residents. We should use state and federal funding to rebuild stronger, so communities are better prepared for the next storm.
Q5 State Science Education (K-12 Science Education) Secondary science (biology, chemistry, and physics) is one of the subject areas where Tennessee schools most often face teacher vacancies or rely on teachers with emergency credentials, and Tennessee lost a larger share of its teachers between 2023 and 2025 than any other state. What specific state policies, if any, would you support to recruit and keep qualified science teachers in Tennessee classrooms, particularly in rural and high-need districts?
I would support targeted salary supplements and student-loan assistance for qualified science teachers in rural and high-need districts, along with paid pathways for science graduates and working professionals to earn teaching credentials. We must also invest in mentoring, lab supplies, and supportive working conditions so teachers want to stay. Every Tennessee student deserves a qualified science teacher, regardless of their ZIP code.
Q6 Trust in science (Policymaking Process / Trust in Science) – Distrust in science has been on the rise among the general public and policymakers, which has been associated with changes in federal funding for scientific research. In order to bridge this gap, how do you think scientists and policymakers can work together to strengthen their communication?
As a public librarian for 20 years, I believe access to reliable information is essential to a healthy democracy. Libraries help bridge the gap between complex research and the public by connecting people with credible sources, encouraging curiosity, and creating spaces where people can ask questions without judgment. Scientists and policymakers should work together to communicate research in clear, accessible language, be transparent about what we know and what we are still learning, and partner with trusted community institutions—including public libraries—to reach people where they are. We build trust through openness, education, and listening, not by telling people what to think.