Shape
what’s next.
A candidate takes the first step. A community builds the momentum. Citizen Activate brings Davidson County residents together to find new leaders, open paths to the ballot, and power the campaigns shaping our future.
Scroll to shape your world
What Citizen Activate does
Turn your civic spark into action.
Decisions about potholes, zoning, and school policy happen close to home. We make elected roles easier to understand, filing requirements easier to follow, and your first volunteer shift easier to find.
Step one
20 minutes
Find the role that fits: explore office profiles
Every office in plain language: what it does, the real time commitment, the pay, and where your experience counts.
You leave withA shortlist of offices that fit you.
Step two
One afternoon
Turn paperwork into a plan: open the filing checklist
The candidate packet, nominating petition, Political Treasurer form, and key dates in the right order, with the official link at every step.
You leave withA filing plan with dates, in the right order.
Step three
One conversation
Say it out loud: I’m thinking about running
A one-on-one about which seat fits, and an introduction to someone who has already taken the leap. Trainings and events along the way count toward the punch card.
You leave withA seat picked, and a person who has done it.
Pick one. You can come back for the others.
Step one
This weekend
Get trained: explore the Super Volunteer guide
Door-knocking and phone-bank training, the two skills every campaign needs first.
You leave withYour first punch, and a shift on the calendar.
Step two
Your hours
Take shifts with a campaign: I’m ready to volunteer
Door knocking and phone banks for a candidate on the ballot now, and two meetings of the office you care about.
You leave withReal voter contact, and punches 2, 4 and 14.
Step three
16 punches
Punch the card: see the punch card
Sixteen real things you turn up to. Finish the card, email the photos, and you’re invited to the year-end dinner.
You leave withAn invitation to the year-end dinner.
Pick one. You can come back for the others.
Sept. 9–10 · Dallas, Texas · Tennessee delegation Live From the floor in Dallas · Tennessee delegation Dallas, Sept 9–10 · What came home
Nashville heads to Dallas. The torch is on the floor in Dallas. The torch came home with notes.
Citizen Activate founder Elle Johnson is joining Tennessee’s delegation to the 2026 Republican Midterm Convention. The Citizen Activate Team will spend two packed days studying how candidates connect, campaigns organize, and ideas turn into action. Then it’s back to Davidson County to put those lessons to work.
Elle Johnson is on the floor with the Tennessee delegation right now. Sessions run 3 to 9 p.m. Central, the same clock as Nashville, and the dispatches land on Instagram as they happen.
Two nights on the floor with the Tennessee delegation, 100-plus speakers, one notebook. Here’s what Elle brought home to Davidson County, and what to do with it before the seats open.
Night 1 starts in
Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 3 p.m. Central.
Wednesday, Sept. 9 · 3 p.m. Central
- Night 1Wed., Sept. 9 · 3–9 p.m. CentralPresident Donald Trump keynote
- Night 2Thu., Sept. 10 · 3–9 p.m. CentralVice President JD Vance. Closing remarks from President Trump
Dallas bound. Davidson focused.
Streamed by the Republican National Convention. Also at GOPConvention.com/live. Nothing from YouTube loads until you press play.
Night 1 run of show
- 3 p.m.Working families tax relief · rooting out waste and fraud · healthcare affordability
- 4 p.m.Policy contrast · legislative delivery · election integrity and public safety
- 5 p.m.Candidate showcase · targeted worker tax cuts · border enforcement · national pride and faith
- 6 p.m.Trade and reshoring · education and parental rights · cultural common sense · healthcare accountability
- 7 p.m.Public safety and victims’ families · economic expansion · government integrity
- 8 p.m.Domestic manufacturing · Vice President Vance’s keynote
Hourly themes from the RNC’s published schedule, converted to Central time.
Night 2 run of show
- 3 p.m.Working families tax relief · anti-corruption · education freedom and faith · hostages
- 4 p.m.American dream · food security · sports · border security
- 5 p.m.Candidate showcase · youth mobilization · tax relief · healthcare reform
- 6 p.m.Prescription drug costs · criminal justice · congressional reform · 9/11 remembrance
- 7 p.m.Public health · party agenda · opposition contrast · working-class focus
- 8 p.m.President Trump’s closing keynote
Hourly themes from the RNC’s published schedule, converted to Central time.
What came home Example copy · replace after Night 2
- From the floorHow a first-time candidate introduces herself in 90 seconds.The candidate showcase hour gave every district hopeful the same 90 seconds. The ones who landed led with one problem on one street, not a résumé.
- From the delegationWhat Tennessee’s delegates asked each other between sessions.Who’s running for what in 2027, who’s helping them, and which Davidson County seats nobody has claimed yet.
- For Davidson CountyThree things to steal for the August 2027 Metro election.A punch-card volunteer ladder, a 90-second candidate pitch, and a filing checklist taped to the fridge.
The county
Know your county. Find your place to lead.
Nashville and Davidson County share one consolidated Metro government. Five smaller cities within the county also have their own boards and mayors, so some residents can pursue seats in two local governments. Select a marker or choose your Council district to explore.
Stylized map. County boundary from the U.S. Census (simplified); the river is drawn approximately. Council district lines are Metro’s own, generalised for drawing; check a boundary on Metro’s district lookup (opens in a new tab).
Metropolitan Government
One Metro. Many ways to serve.
City and county merged in 1963, so most local offices are countywide or district-based Metro seats. About 715,000 residents, one Mayor, a 40-member Council, and a slate of independently elected countywide officers.
- Countywide: Mayor, Vice Mayor, 5 at-large Council members
- Independently elected: Sheriff, District Attorney, Public Defender, Assessor, Trustee, County Clerk, Register of Deeds, court clerks, judges
- District-based: 35 Council districts, 9 School Board districts
Not sure which one you live in? Look it up by address (opens in a new tab).
Super Volunteer punch card
16 actions.
Real momentum.
Learn the work. Meet the people. Build the skills. Each punch gives you firsthand experience with campaigns, public meetings, and elections. Complete all 16 for an invitation to the year-end dinner and consideration for candidate and Super Volunteer development support from GOP Nashville.
0of 16 complete
Tap an activity to track it here. Your progress stays in this browser. To receive official credit, email photos from the activities you complete.