Grassroots Progressive: Kristi Burke Connects With Voters in Johnson City

Editor's Note: Jadie Sutton, an ETSU student journalist with an interest in politics and advocacy, helped organize an event featured in the story. She adhered to proper ethical reporting standards in the reporting and writing of this article. 

Around 40 community members recently gathered at Kiwanis Park to make friendship bracelets and discuss pressing issues with Tennessee's 1st Congressional District candidate Kristi Burke. 

Nearly 50 bracelets were made, some featuring slogans such as "Fund Schools" and "Tax the Rich." Several were intended for distribution at future community events. Snacks and swag bags containing promotional materials for Burke's campaign were also provided. The event was held April 23. 

Contributed//@votekristiburke

Burke announced her campaign in January 2026, challenging Republican incumbent Diana Harshbarger for Tennessee's 1st Congressional District seat. The district includes Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, Washington and Sevier counties. 

The Democratic candidate has campaigned on addressing the cost-of-living crisis, increasing government accountability and giving District 1 "a voice that sounds like the people who actually live" there. 

"I don't think it's as red as people believe," Burke said. "I think we have a unique opportunity to mobilize the people who are progressive." 

A 2025 State of Working report from ThinkTennessee, a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank that promotes evidence-based policies through research and advocacy, found that although Tennessee has experienced strong economic growth, many residents continue to struggle financially. A 2024 report from the Tennessee Department of Health found that nearly 10,000 Tennesseans experienced homelessness in 2023 and noted the figure was likely a significant undercount. 

Burke said those challenges are directly linked to rising costs for essentials such as groceries and health care. One of her proposed solutions is shifting the tax burden from working families to corporations and wealthy individuals, then directing the additional revenue toward schools, infrastructure and other public programs. 

Funding education and establishing a universal single-payer health care system are among the top priorities listed on her campaign website. 

Burke also identified abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, commonly known as ICE, as a priority. According to ICE, multiple law enforcement agencies and state offices in East Tennessee signed 287(g) agreements in 2025, allowing certain state and local officers to perform limited immigration enforcement functions under federal supervision. Burke said she opposes those agreements. 

"There's no negotiating training or anything; ICE has to go," Burke said. "We also need to invest in our immigrant communities and help them find status the legal way." 

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine remains a significant issue for many voters. Burke said she would not accept campaign contributions from corporate donors, including the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC. 

Contributed//Kristi for Congress TN-01

She also said she would oppose any U.S. military aid to Israel if elected. 

"We need to completely cut Israel off," Burke said. "They are committing genocide with our tax dollars." 

Burke's civic involvement expanded following the 2024 election, when she began creating more political content on YouTube. Before running for Congress, Burke documented her departure from Christianity and the reevaluation of her religious beliefs on her YouTube channel, "Jezebel Vibes," which has nearly 130,000 subscribers. 

Burke said she decided to run for Congress after being removed from one of Harshbarger's town halls. A video of the incident received more than 800,000 views on her YouTube channel. 

In addition to taking out a loan to help cover campaign expenses, Burke said she has reduced her YouTube activities while campaigning. 

"A lot of people get into it having the funding already, but I am not a wealthy person whatsoever, so it's a struggle," Burke said. "We've had to really simplify our lives." 

Burke said community support has played a major role in her campaign and emphasized the importance of encouraging more local residents to become involved in politics. 

In February 2026, she marched with Indivisible Tri-Cities in Kingsport to call for a town hall with Harshbarger. On April 17, she spoke at SolidarityFest on the campus of East Tennessee State University, a fundraiser for the Tri-Cities Mutual Aid Network and the Johnson City Pride Community Center. 

"We need to start sending people who don't have a political agenda," Burke said. "I realized nobody was running at the time, so I decided to do it myself." 

Burke criticized what she described as closed-door meetings where lawmakers vote on legislation without sufficient public input. If elected, she said she would prioritize town halls and maintain regular communication with constituents. 

"I want to meet with the community before these bills are passed and ask what they want to see," Burke said. "I think when we ask for community input, we can probably come up with better solutions." 

Looking ahead, Burke said she plans to focus on increasing voter turnout in District 1 by expanding outreach to nonvoters and people with differing political views. She said both major political parties have failed to adequately listen to their constituents. 

"We need to make sure that we're lifting everyone up from the bottom and taking care of our basic needs," Burke said. "I think people want something different, and they want that difference to benefit them."