TikTok personality Bri Woodson is making a move into politics with a goal to become the second-youngest Black woman ever elected to Congress. Woodson, who is aiming for the 2026 midterm elections, has already started campaigning for Georgia’s 12th district.
She is already hitting the campaign trail to prepare for the primaries and aims to make history in Congress, with the midterm elections less than a year away.
Her platform focuses on progressive stances intended to bring positive change to the district, which encompasses the eastern and southeastern parts of the state. While she is not the first media figure to enter politics, Woodson is determined to use her run to make a difference.
Woodson, who calls herself a “Daughter Of The Deep South,” draws on her background in rural Georgia to inform her goals and the obstacles she has faced.
She has an inspiring story of triumphing over addiction to become a mental health counselor and advocate. Additionally, she utilizes her social media platforms to raise awareness about various social issues.
She told Black Enterprise, “As someone who recognizes struggle and who knows what it means to want to be heard and not be able to, when I think of how I describe myself to others, one word comes to mind: a fighter. I am such an advocate for others. I want to always have my voice be an extension of others.”
With a rapidly expanding TikTok channel, @thecontroversialblonde, the 31-year-old has amassed over 1 million likes by engaging with national policies. Her viral content, which primarily focuses on the threat to Black history education in public schools, not only provides information but also directly confronts the current administration.
She added, “You see the changes in the current administration, the fear of it. It was a call to action like I never felt before. I’ve never held public office before, but it was just called to me, and I had to do something. We have to try something different.”
Woodson, already skilled at engaging an audience, intends to leverage her natural speaking abilities in the House. She hopes to inspire progressive change by forging a new coalition of voters in Georgia, particularly those outside of Atlanta.
She continued, “I want to really highlight the rural counties in District 12. Our rural counties, especially down here in the South, are struggling with infrastructure, access, and funds. They all matter. And I’ve planted myself in rural counties for the majority of my adult life, and it’s something I’m super passionate about.“
Woodson has a long-standing commitment to grassroots change that extends beyond her political aspirations. She has already demonstrated her leadership abilities in various local and national political organizations, including serving as the state lead for the Fight Against Fascism Organization and holding positions within the Young Democrats of Georgia.
She believes her dual background—as a substance abuse counselor and with a significant social media presence—will be key to connecting with and building trust among potential constituents, even those who may not share her political views.
Woodson, discussing her current employment, emphasized her ability to foster understanding: “I am in rooms of adult learners every single day. I get the option of saying, ‘Oh, you don’t agree with me…’ I have to figure out how to adjust my language to explain neuroscience of the brain to a former gang leader and a former CEO across the room. So when I realized that I can be the person that bridges the gap, it set off a light bulb, because we need more dialogue over division. And that’s one of my biggest goals.”
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Woodson’s campaign centers on her commitment to improving healthcare and mental health support. She also aims to restore bipartisanship and successfully pass legislation with broad support from both political parties.
What sets her apart from other new congressional candidates is her considerable social media following and deep community ties. While her social media numbers don’t guarantee votes, the continuous effort she puts into engaging with various communities is a defining part of her campaign strategy.
“My platform has helped me, first of all, understand the power of the internet and outreach, and that is something that makes my candidacy and my race just historic in and of itself. I’ve learned how to talk to people. And how to present myself as a voice that is strong enough to be a leader. It also helped me understand that my voice is powerful enough to amass a platform of over 100,000 people.”
