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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