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U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota addresses the Tennessee Democratic Party on Friday, May 19.(Photo: Joel Ebert/The Tennessean)Buy Photo

Led by U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Tennessee Democrats on Friday seized on the latest controversy surrounding President Donald Trump in an effort to energize their base ahead of the 2018 election.

An estimated 800 peoplegathered at the State Fairgrounds in Nashville on Friday while attending the Tennessee Democratic Party's annual Jackson Day Dinner.

Despite the uphill battle that the party faces in the state legislature where Republicans control 101 out of 132seats optimism was in the air as Klobuchar andprominent Tennessee Democrats spoke to theirparty members.

Klobuchar, who briefly addressed the latest news surrounding Trump, said last year's election provided some lessons to Democrats.

"We left a lot of country behind," she said.

The Minnesotan said the party needs to acknowledge that American businesses need incentives to invest in the country while also catching more foreign countries that are breaking trade laws.

She also stressedthe need for improving the nation's infrastructure and health care system.

Noting that there have been protests throughout the country over a variety of issues, Klobuchar said, "We need to turn this outrage that we feel ... into legislative races in Tennessee, your congressional races in Tennessee, to win elections."

Among the handful of times she mentioned Trump, Klobuchar said Democrats were the ones that provided the pressure that led to this week's appointment ofa special prosecutor to continue looking into the Russia's potential influence on the Trump campaign and in last year's election.

Unlike in previous Jackson Day Dinners, some of the energywas in part due to the looming 2018 gubernatorial race, whenDemocrats are hoping they canmounta significant challenge to whoever becomes the Republican nominee.

Former Nashville mayor Karl Dean, who announced his candidacy in February, and House Minority Leader Craig Fitzhugh, who has been mulling a run, each addressed the crowd taking markedly different approaches.

Dean, who asked for support from those in the audience while reasserting his candidacy, spoke about his accomplishments while mayor.

"What we need to do in Tennessee is concentrate on public education that's the number one issue we have to invest in," he said. Dean also said the state also needs to see economic development beyond the big cities that are experiencing prosperous times.

During his four-minute speech, Dean also called attention to the fact that he was the first mayor to publicly support the marriage equality act and his work with President Barack Obama's administration to encourage people to sign up for the Affordable Care Act.

"I really believe we live in a special state ... but our best days are still ahead," Dean concluded.

Fitzhugh, who introduced himself as the leader of the House Democrats, relied less on his own accomplishments while praising his fellow House members and party colleagues.

"If you give us 10 more members in the House and the Senate, give us a Democratic governor and we will improve this state like nobody's business," Fitzhugh said, during his eight-minute speech.

Among the more receptive moments of Fitzhugh's speech was when he mentioned that Trump, who he said made his name by firing people on television, might be looking in the mirror soon and saying the same thing to himself.

After noting that he thinks the country frequently calls upon Democrats to correctmistakes made whenRepublicans maintainpower, Fitzhugh said, "I think in 2018 we should do it on the state level."

Fitzhugh, who made no mention of his interest in running for governor, said it was time a Democrat controlled the executive branch in Tennessee.

Although Friday's event did not provide any concrete answers about whethertheparty will see a competitive gubernatorialprimary next year, what was clear is that Democrats are looking forward to a bounce-back election in light of Trump's presidency.

Trump's administration has been mired in controversy over a variety of issues, including the ongoing investigation into Russia's involvement in the 2016 election.

Throughout the evening, Klobuchar and other speakers, includingCongressman Jim Cooper, offered occasionalbarbs to Trump.

Other speakers to address the audiencewere Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, state party chairwoman Mary Mancini, Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke and Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan, as well as actor Ed Asner.

Reach Joel Ebert atjebert@tennessean.comor 615-772-1681andon Twitter@joelebert29.

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Dean, Fitzhugh, Minnesota senator seek to energize Tennessee Democrats - The Tennessean

Sacramento Bee

Nurses heckle Democratic leader, threaten legislators over health care Sacramento Bee State Democrats' three-day convention had a raucous start Friday, as liberal activists booed and heckled Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez after marching from the state Capitol to promote a universal heath care program. The leader of the ...

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Nurses heckle Democratic leader, threaten legislators over health care - Sacramento Bee

Democrats are outnumbered in Washington, and that may leave them little leverage to stop Republicans intent on dismantling net neutrality rules that were a signature Obama-era regulation.

But they say they will keep trying.

I never believe all is lost, said Mignon Clyburn, the sole Democrat at the Federal Communications Commission.

Clyburns two Republican colleagues on the commission out-voted her Thursday to begin formally considering weakening the rules, which prohibit broadband providerssuch as AT&T Inc., Comcast Corp. and Verizon Communications Inc. from blocking or slowing some web traffic in favor of other content -- their own or a paying customers. The action begins months of consideration leading to a second, conclusive vote after a comment period that ends in August.

The prospect of changing the rules has produced a public outpouring, demonstrating the populist appeal of an issue that has pitted Silicon Valley and its Democratic backers against long-established telecoms. The FCC has registered more than 2 million emailed comments -- many after TV comedian John Oliver urged viewers to act. When the rules were put in place by a Democratic-controlled FCC in 2015, some 4 million people offered comments.

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It seems unlikely the rule supporters can win over Chairman Ajit Pai and Commissioner Michael ORielly, the Republicans who make up the agencys majority and gave full-throated endorsements to the change. Pai said the action marked the beginning of repealing utility-style regulation, and ORielly told reporters he has raised concerns with all of the rules and the need for any rules to enforce net neutrality, or equal treatment web traffic.

Related story: Divided U.S. FCC Votes to Begin Net Neutrality Rule Rollback

Under Pais proposal the agency will consider lifting bans on blocking web traffic, and against building fast lanes that favor those willing to pay more for faster service. The agency also will consider whether to keep a ban against impairing or degrading web traffic, known as throttling.

Democrats also hold a minority of both chambers of Congress and havent been willing to take up Republican lawmakers offers to write a law that would supersede the FCCs efforts out of suspicion the legislation would weaken protections.

On Thursday, Democrats called for resistance. Senator Maggie Hassan, of New Hampshire, said she will continue fighting and Senator Kamala Harris, of California, said she will fight to protect the net neutrality rules.

The movement to defend net neutrality will not stop, said Senator Ed Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat. I will oppose any legislative efforts that weaken or undermine the Open Internet Order -- the formal name for the 2015 rule passed while President Barack Obama was in office.

Republicans asked for a negotiated peace to end a debate thats raged for more than a decade.

We need a statute offering clear and enduring rules, said Senator John Thune, the South Dakota Republican who is chairman of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee that oversees the FCC. Unless grounded in legislation, partisan policy changes through administrative action can be fleeting.

Why Republicans Want to Nix U.S. Net Neutrality Rules: QuickTake

Pai,a Republican appointed chairman by President Donald Trump, wants to remove strong legal authority that critics say over-regulates telephone and cable providers, and that defenders say is needed to enforce fair treatment of web traffic.

Republicans say the regulation discourages investment and hamstrings broadband companies. The rules were passed at the urging of President Barack Obama, and Democrats say theyre needed to prevent unfair treatment of web traffic by companies that control access to homes and smartphones.

NCTA-The Internet and Television Association, a trade group with Comcast among its members, said the vote appropriately begins the agencys efforts to restore a modern regulatory framework that will promote internet freedom.

USTelecom, a trade group for broadband providers including AT&T and Verizon, said in a news release the vote moved policy toward a modern, constructive policy framework.

The Internet Association, with members including Alphabet Inc.s Google, Amazon.com Inc., Facebook Inc. and Netflix Inc., said it opposed to Pais changes. Broadband providers should not be able to use their position as gatekeepers to prioritize their own content over others, Michael Beckerman, president of the group, said in an emailed statement.

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Outnumbered Democrats Say They'll Still Fight for Net Neutrality - Bloomberg

Voter turnout estimates from last week's primary election have shown the Bucks County Democratic Committee members numbers they haven't seen for at least 10 years.

"This is the largest Democratic turnout for an off-year primary since at least 2007," said John Cordisco, chairman committee. "Even when we were in the middle of (George W.) Bush's presidency, we weren't seeing numbers like this."

Flat voter registration numbers and fewer than 150 contested races in Bucks and eastern Montgomery County inevitably translated to a low-turnout primary. Election officials described voters as apathetic or disinterested in the local races.

The Bucks County Board of Elections reported Friday that 11.6 percent of voters registered as either Democratic or Republican had participated in Tuesday's races.

According to BOE Director Deana Dean, the estimated percentages are calculated based on the local race that had the largest number of votes. This year, the county sheriff primary served that role.

Challenger Milt Warrell recorded 24,230 votes, representing 12.25 percent of county Democrats, setting up his general election bid against incumbent Sheriff Edward "Duke" Donnelly, who attracted 20,559 votes, or 10.92 percent of Republicans.

That 3,000 to 4,000 voter gap holds in favor of the Democratic Party farther down the Bucks row office list, including the offices of district attorney, prothonotary and recorder of deeds. Cordisco says the addition of Eric Nagy and Gary Masino Jr. to help with local campaigns helped the county Democrats lead a successful get-out-the-vote initiative.

"Concern with what's happening in Washington definitely was a factor," said Cordisco. "The addition of (the) two full-time staffers within the party played a bigger role." Nagy and Masino, Cordisco said, "are experienced in running campaigns, and they gave more assistance to local organizations."

Democrats came out strong in Montgomery County as well, with 20.42 percent of party voters lining up on Election Day. That's a 4-point advantage over the Montgomery County Republicans, who finished the day with 16.09 percent of that party's registered voters participating.

By comparison, for the 2013 municipal primary, with the same county offices up for grabs, 15.59 percent of registered Republicans in Bucks County came out to vote. The Democrats attracted 11.22 percent of their party's voters that year. The numbers were a little tighter in Montgomery County four years ago, with 11.47 percent of Republicans leading the 10.31 percent of Democratic voters who turned out.

"There's been a rise of participation in all levels," said Cordisco of the Bucks Democrats. "The municipal meetings I've been to around the county have seen a 50 to 100 percent rise in attendance; there's a greater increase in candidates."

Jim Saring, executive director of the Montgomery County Republican Committee, conceded that the Democrats had an elevated turnout in pockets of the county last week. However, he said, Republicans came out strong in competitive races. For example, District Judge Andrea Duffy cross-filed and won the nomination from both parties for her re-election campaign to the Montgomery Township magisterial court.

"Mike Altieri had strong numbers in the district judge race in East Norriton, in a part of the county that's not very strong for Republicans, usually," said Saring. Altieri will face Democrat Marc Alfarano in the fall. Both cross-filed for the open seat, but Altieri earned more Republican votes (1,041) than Alfarano received Democratic (916).

Cordisco says there's little time to bask in the turnout numbers as the Bucks Democrats start back up with fundraising efforts, door-knocking and getting their message out for the general election in November.

"The real work begins now," he said.

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Even in low-turnout primary, more Bucks, Montgomery Democrats cast ballots than Republicans - Bucks County Courier Times

Updated on May 19 at 5:05 p.m. EST

Democrats reacted with a mixture of shock and anger to instantly controversial reports in The New York Times and The Washington Post on Friday afternoon involving President Trump and the federal investigation into whether coordination existed between his campaign associates and the Russian government.

Trump Told the Russians That 'Nut Job' Comey's Firing Relieved 'Great Pressure'

This is what OBSTRUCTION looks like, Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy tweeted in response to the Times report that Trump informed Russian officials that his decision to fire FBI Director James Comey eased great pressure. The Times further reported that Trump called Comey crazy, a real nut job, and said I faced great pressure because of Russia. Thats taken off during the interaction.

If there was any question as to why Comey was really fired, @realDonaldTrump just answered it. As I said, Nixonian, Democratic Senator Bob Casey wrote on Twitter in response to the report.

The truth is coming out, Democratic Representative Jim McGovern tweeted in reference to a separate Washington Post report stating that the law enforcement investigation into possible coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign has identified a current White House official as a significant person of interest.

Democratic Senator Ed Markey said in an MSNBC interview that the reports have created an inflection point in the entire Russia-collusion investigation, adding: it makes it very clear that what Donald Trump was trying to do was to end the Russian investigation.

A number of congressional Democrats responded to the reports by reviving calls for an independent commission to investigate potential Trump-Russia ties.

Others called for Congress to take action in other ways: Representative Elijah Cummings, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, urged the panels GOP Chairman Jason Chaffetz to obtain copies immediately of any White House documents that might exist memorializing the Presidents statements to the Russians.

The revelations follow a tumultuous period for the Trump administration that has unfolded over the past two weeks.

It started last week when the president abruptly fired Comey, who was then charged with oversight of the bureaus investigation into potential ties between Trump campaign associates and the Russian government. American intelligence agencies concluded in January that the Russian government engaged in an influence operation intended to undermine Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election. Although it remains ongoing, the Russia inquiry has caused significant political troubles for the Trump administration in its early days.

Comeys firing was followed in quick succession by reports that Trump had shared highly classified information with Russian diplomats at the White House that endangered a source of intelligence on ISIS, and that Trump had privately asked Comey to halt an investigation into his former national security advisor Michael Flynn.

The Department of Justice announced on Wednesday that Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein had appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate possible links between Trump associates and Russian officials. The president reacted angrily to the news on Twitter early Thursday morning, calling it the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!

The White House has struggled to limit the damage, as Trump has undermined much of the official administration messaging in either interviews or tweets. In an interview with NBC News that took place several days after firing Comey, Trump indicated that the Russia investigation was on his mind when he decided to fire Comey, saying when I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made up story. The president appeared to confirm that he had disclosed information related to terrorism with Russian officials in a series of tweets on Tuesday.

During a press conference on Thursday, however, Trump insisted that there was no collusion with Russia, and responded no, no, next question, when asked if he had urged Comey back down from investigating Flynn.

In reaction to the Times report that Trump had said firing Comey had taken off pressure, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said that the real story is that our national security has been undermined by the leaking of private and highly classified conversations.

Responding to the Post, Spicer said that a thorough investigation will confirm that there was no collusion between the campaign and any foreign entity.

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Democrats Say Trump Committed Obstruction of Justice - The Atlantic