State House of Representatives – 37th District
Marlayna Trego
Marlayna Trego
Democrat
Tell us about your campaign.
I’m Marlayna Trego, and I’m running for State Representative in House District 37 because we deserve a representative who actually knows what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck. I’m not a career politician. I’ve worked as a cosmetologist, a bank teller, a commercial truck driver, and in warehouses. I grew up in my family’s automation and rigging business, so I know what it means to work with your hands and build something from nothing. That’s the life experience I’m bringing to this race, not a law degree or a donor list. My campaign is grassroots and volunteer-driven, with no corporate backing, because I don’t want to owe anybody but the people of District 37. My campaign is built on three pillars. Afford to Thrive means fighting for real wages, affordable housing, and relief from the rising cost of living that’s crushing working families in Rutherford County. Restore Access to Healthcare means making sure people in our district can actually see a doctor, afford their prescriptions, and get the maternal healthcare they need without driving an hour to find it. Protect What’s Ours means standing up for our public resources, including clean drinking water. Families in this district have dealt with contamination concerns tied to the Middle Point Landfill, and that’s not something I’m willing to look away from. I’m running because I’m tired of watching working people get left out of the conversation at the State House. I’ve been homeless twice. I’ve faced job loss while pregnant. I’ve lived the reality that so many families in this district are living right now. I know what it’s like to do everything right and still fall behind. This district deserves a fighter who shows up, listens, and legislates like a neighbor instead of a lobbyist. That’s what I’m offering. I’d be honored to earn your vote.
In your own words, describe the responsibilities of the office you are seeking.
A State Representative for House District 37 is meant to serve the people. The job includes writing, sponsoring, and voting on legislation that affects every part of life in Tennessee, from healthcare and education to wages, housing, and infrastructure. Beyond the State House floor, the role means serving on committees where the real work of shaping bills happens, reviewing the state budget, and voting on how public dollars get spent in our communities. It also means being accessible and accountable to the people back home, holding town halls, answering constituent calls, and showing up when local issues need a voice in Nashville. Most importantly, it means representing the actual needs of District 37, not the interests of corporate donors or party leadership. A good representative brings the concerns of working families, small business owners, teachers, and everyday neighbors directly into the policymaking process, and fights to make sure our district isn’t overlooked.
What are your priorities for this office?
Afford to Thrive • Raise wages and fight for a living wage that keeps pace with the actual cost of living in Rutherford County • Push for property tax relief and affordable housing options as rents and home prices outpace local paychecks • Support expanded access to childcare so parents can work without losing most of their paycheck to daycare Restore Access to Healthcare • Support Medicaid expansion to close Tennessee’s coverage gap and get more working families insured • Fight to keep rural and community hospitals open and fully staffed in Rutherford County • Improve access to maternal healthcare, including OB-GYN, prenatal & postpartum, so no one has to drive an hour for basic care Protect What’s Ours • Demand accountability and clean up efforts around the Middle Point Landfill contamination and stronger protections for our drinking water • Push back on redistricting maps that dilute Rutherford County voters’ voices • Protect public education funding and oppose efforts to divert public dollars away from our schools I will show up, listen, and fight for these priorities because they’re not abstract to me. They’re the issues my own family and neighbors deal with every day.
Describe your qualifications for this office.
I’m not running because I’ve spent years in politics. I’m running because I’ve spent years living the reality that so many families in District 37 are living right now. I’ve worked as a cosmetologist, a bank teller, a commercial truck driver, and in warehouses. I grew up in my family’s automation and rigging business, learning what it takes to build something with your own hands. I’ve experienced housing instability firsthand, which means I understand the stakes of the Afford to Thrive pillar of my campaign in a way that isn’t theoretical. I also bring organizing experience to this race. I serve on the Rutherford County Democratic Party Executive Committee, and I founded Nashville Girls Group, a progressive community of around 2,000 women focused on civic engagement and collective action. I created “Know Your Power,” a civic education video series to help everyday people understand how our government actually works and how to make their voices heard. My campaign has earned endorsements from Rep. Aftyn Behn, Rep. Vincent Dixie, Run for Something, the National Women’s Political Caucus of Tennessee, and Moms Demand Action distinction, which named me a Gun Sense Candidate. I’m qualified for this office because I know what it means to struggle, to organize, and to fight for people who don’t have a seat at the table. That’s exactly what District 37 deserves in Nashville.
