Mike McDougal | Documentary Photographer and Photojournalist

An Evening of Fellowship, Conversation and a Few Unanswered Questions

November 10, 2026 | Rutherford County Republican Headquarters | Murfreesboro, Tennessee

State Representatives Bryan Terry and Charlie Baum sit alongside Rutherford County Mayor Randy Allen and Rutherford County Republican Chair Daniel Gammon during the “State of Rutherford County” event hosted by the Rutherford County Young Republicans on Nov. 10, 2026.

What was originally advertised as an evening of fellowship and conversation with Rutherford County Mayor Randy Allen, marking his first 100 days in office, took on a slightly different appearance following the November election.

The original promotional material invited residents to join Allen for an evening of conversation about his first 100 days, his vision for Rutherford County, and his goals and priorities for the next four years. The evening was advertised as an opportunity for questions and answers, with hot cider and cookies.

At some point, the event was rebranded as the “State of Rutherford County,” expanding the advertised lineup to include Tennessee State Representatives Charlie Baum and Bryan Terry, along with Rutherford County Republican Party Chairman Daniel Gammon.

I was curious to see what the evening had in store, so I showed up with my cameras.

The flyer on the left is the original event announcement, titled “An Evening with County Mayor Randy Allen.” The updated flyer on the right adds State Representatives Charlie Baum and Bryan Terry, along with Rutherford County Republican Chair Daniel Gammon, and renames the event “State of Rutherford County.”

An Unwelcome Arrival

I arrived at approximately 5:30 p.m. and parked across the street from the Rutherford County Republican Party headquarters on the Murfreesboro square. A few minutes later, I walked over to get an idea of how many people were inside. At the time, there appeared to be fewer than 10.

At 5:46 p.m., I retrieved my cameras and headed back across the street. After taking a few photographs outside, I entered the building and positioned myself toward the back-left corner of the room, closest to the street.

I managed to take exactly one photograph.

A man approached me, shook my hand, addressed me by name, and informed me that my reputation preceded me. He then explained that I wasn’t welcome and that there was no media allowed because this was a private event.

He didn’t introduce himself, tell me what position he held, or explain who had made the decision. I was sufficiently caught off guard that I didn’t think to ask his name.

I confirmed with him that the public sidewalk wasn’t off-limits and that I would continue documenting from there.

And that’s exactly what I did.

I stepped outside, took a few photographs, and continued working from the sidewalk after the doors closed. As I began photographing through the building’s windows and doors, several men inside seemed to position themselves in front of them. They appeared to watch my movements and reposition themselves as I moved along the sidewalk.

I photographed what I could.

The unidentified man on the right approached me, stating that my reputation preceded me and informing me that the event was private and media were not permitted.

A Packed Room and Some Familiar Faces

Although I wasn’t permitted to attend, the event appeared to draw a substantial crowd. By the time the gathering was underway, the room was packed. I estimated close to 100 people in attendance.

Among those recognizable were:

Rutherford County Mayor Randy Allen
Tennessee State Representative Bryan Terry
Tennessee State Representative Charlie Baum
Rutherford County Republican Party Chairman Daniel Gammon
Rutherford County Commissioner Shawn McGowan, District 15
Rutherford County Commissioner Trey Gooch, District 20

The gathering brought together local and state Republican leadership, elected officials, and party supporters.

And judging by the discussion that reportedly took place inside, Republicans aren’t wasting much time regrouping after the midterm elections.

They’re already looking ahead to the next election cycle, examining what went wrong, identifying areas of weakness, and discussing how to organize more effectively.

More on that in a moment.

Rutherford County Mayor Randy Allen arrives at the “State of Rutherford County” event hosted by the Rutherford County Young Republicans on Nov. 10, 2026.

Rutherford County Commissioner Trey Gooch, District 20 (right) Jon Wayne James, stand and converse before the “State of Rutherford County” event.

A Few Questions for Party Leadership

After getting home, I sent an email to Daniel Gammon, chairman of the Rutherford County Republican Party.

I wasn’t particularly interested in arguing about being asked to leave. What I wanted to know was who had approached me, what authority he had, and whether there was an actual policy prohibiting members of the media from attending events at party headquarters.

I also asked whether the decision came from the Rutherford County GOP, the Young Republicans, or an individual, and whether I had specifically been singled out because of my photography, reporting, or public commentary.

I explained that I’m an independent documentary photographer and photojournalist based in Middle Tennessee. I document local government, elected officials, political events, and matters of public interest throughout the region.

I also made it clear that I cover both sides of the political spectrum. People don’t have to agree with my opinions, and I certainly don’t expect them to. But I do expect transparency when it comes to decisions about media access, particularly when an event has been publicly advertised.

A few hours later, Gammon responded:

“Hi Mike,

Thanks for the message and I appreciate you being respectful upon their request. Tonight was a private event for our supporters. There’s no need to work on your poker face, we know the real reason you were there.

On a side note, [name redacted] is wrong, I too like the mustache :)

Have a great night!”

The references to my poker face and mustache appeared to reference a Facebook comment thread where I had discussed the interaction and my attendance at the event. Before attending, I had jokingly mentioned needing to work on my poker face for attending such an event.

Apparently, the conversation had made its way back to party leadership.

The comment about knowing the real reason I was there was interesting, too.

I won’t pretend to be politically neutral in my personal life. I’m openly critical of much of what the Republican Party represents, and I’m certainly not shy about calling out harmful and hateful rhetoric online.

But there’s a difference between my personal commentary and the work I do with a camera.

I photograph Republicans. I photograph Democrats. I photograph people I agree with and people I strongly disagree with. I document what happens, as it happens, not what I wish had happened.

I responded to Gammon, thanking him for the quick reply but pointing out that he still hadn’t answered one of my questions:

“Appreciate the quick response, Daniel. I always remain professional when working. That answers everything I inquired about except for the name of the gentleman who asked me to leave at the event, though. Are you able to provide that?”

That question remains outstanding.

Tennessee State Representative Bryan Terry looks on during the “State of Rutherford County” event at Rutherford County Republican Headquarters on Nov. 10, 2026.

What Was Discussed Behind Closed Doors?

Although I wasn’t permitted to sit in on the meeting, an attendee who asked to remain anonymous reached out afterward and shared notes from the discussion.

The information presented below is based on notes and recollections provided by an individual who attended the meeting. I have not independently verified every statement or discussion described, and the account should be understood as the attendee’s recollection rather than a firsthand report.

One of the first things discussed was the decision to change the original forum’s plans following the election results. According to the attendee, the disappointing results prompted organizers to shift the focus toward examining what happened and discussing the party’s path forward.

There was reportedly an acknowledgment that Republicans had several “hypotheses” about the election results, but that more analysis would be needed before drawing firm conclusions.

The conversation was described as calm, analytical, and heavily focused on numbers, demographics, and future political strategy.

Some of the key points reportedly included:

Looking Ahead to the Next Election Cycle

A significant focus on future elections, particularly races in Rutherford County.
An acknowledgment that Republicans need to better organize and prepare for upcoming election cycles.
Discussion about the 37,000 voters who had supported Republicans previously but did not turn out in the recent elections.
Recognition that national Republican politics had affected local races.
Discussion of broken promises at the national level, including assurances that there would be no new wars and promises of a stronger economy, followed by developments that reportedly disappointed voters.

Attendees fill the room during the “State of Rutherford County” event hosted by the Rutherford County Young Republicans on Nov. 10, 2026.

Where Republicans See Opportunities

The discussion reportedly included a geographic breakdown of Tennessee’s political landscape.

According to the attendee, speakers characterized Memphis and Nashville as reliably Democratic and rural areas as reliably Republican, identifying suburban communities, Knoxville, and Hamilton County as areas requiring greater attention.

There was particular emphasis on the importance of U.S. Congressional District 4.

Redistricting was also discussed, including the addition of a portion of Davidson County to District 4.

Republicans reportedly expressed concern about losing the district to Democrat Victoria Broderick and discussed the need to recruit a particularly strong candidate to try to win it back in the next election.

Changing Demographics and Voter Engagement

Demographics and changing voting patterns in Rutherford County, particularly northern Rutherford County and La Vergne, were reportedly recurring topics.

The attendee also recalled discussion about:

Low Republican support among women and the need to get more women involved.
The success of younger Democratic candidates and the need for Republicans to engage younger voters.
Democratic efforts to mobilize immigrant voters.
The importance of finding stronger candidates who can appeal to a broader range of voters.
The need for better organization and more effective voter outreach.

Justin Pearson was reportedly described as a “hero” to Democrats. The attendee recalled discussion about his influence on Democratic turnout in the District 9 portion of Rutherford County and potentially in other areas.

There was also recognition that Democrats had been well organized, experienced strong turnout, and fielded candidates who appealed to a considerable number of voters.

Rutherford County Mayor Randy Allen addresses attendees during the “State of Rutherford County” event at Rutherford County Republican Headquarters on Nov. 10, 2026.

The Message Going Forward

One recurring theme was the need for Republicans to become more “professional,” with better presentation and messaging while continuing to adhere to what speakers frequently referred to as “conservative principles.”

The attendee noted that the phrase came up repeatedly, although those principles weren’t specifically defined in the discussion.

Christian religious references were also woven into portions of the conversation, with attendees and speakers reportedly referencing God’s purpose and being guided by Jesus.

One particularly interesting moment involved an attendee suggesting that fraudulent voting may have contributed to the election results.

According to the account I received, that suggestion was met with considerable pushback. Rather than entertaining the allegation, those leading the discussion reportedly praised Tennessee’s election system and its efforts to prevent voter fraud.

Overall, the meeting was described as measured and businesslike, with considerably more emphasis on analyzing election results and planning future political efforts than on venting about the outcome.

Taken together, the discussion suggests that Rutherford County Republicans are already evaluating their weaknesses and looking for ways to rebuild their political advantage before the next election cycle.

It’s worth noting again that these meeting details were provided by an attendee and have not been independently verified by me. I wasn’t inside the room to hear the remarks firsthand.

Dozens of attendees fill the room during the “State of Rutherford County” event hosted by the Rutherford County Young Republicans on Nov. 10, 2026.

The Reputation That Precedes Me

And then there’s that reputation that apparently preceded me.

I’m genuinely curious what, exactly, that reputation is supposed to be.

If it’s that I’m the guy who shows up with his cameras to city and county meetings, political events, and public gatherings to document what’s happening in the city and county that I was born and raised in, I’m perfectly comfortable with that.

If it’s that I hold elected officials accountable, ask uncomfortable questions, and talk a little shit online when people share racist, bigoted, misleading, or demonstrably false nonsense, that’s a reputation I’m proud to have.

I don’t have to agree with someone’s politics to recognize that their actions, decisions, and public appearances are worth documenting.

I photograph political events because they’re happening, because the people involved hold positions of influence, because what’s happening in our community deserves to be documented but above all, the ability to observe, photograph, and report on matters of public interest is something I take seriously.

I don’t need an invitation to be interested in what’s happening in my own county.

And I don’t need everyone to like me to keep showing up.

© 2026 Mike McDougal