Caswell, a registered Democrat who said she's a social liberal and fiscal conservative, said she decided to organize the tea party in response to a fairly recent interest in politics.
"I watch (Fox News personality) Glenn Beck every night," she said. "He's really motivating, that people can make a difference."
Brad Cummings, chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party, said his organization is involved as a way to give a voice to some of its members who oppose the government bailouts of businesses and President Barack Obama's $787 billion stimulus package. But he said the tea party shouldn't be thought of as a partisan event.