Weekly Sprint Report #8: A Principled Path to Victory

Good evening,

This week was about the quiet, foundational work of a campaign. I spent much of my time handwriting thank-you notes to our first donors and petition signers. Every single signature and donation is a personal investment in this effort, and I am truly grateful for that early trust.

We also continued to engage with the grassroots of our party. On the scheduling front, the LD2 candidate forum has been pushed back to later in October, and I'll share the new date as soon as it's set.

Now, I want to be transparent about a more serious issue. I took a step back from the campaign for a couple of days this week to reflect on a petition that may be circulating, asking candidates in my position to withdraw from the race if they don't meet certain metrics.

My first reaction is that this approach benefits candidates who start with money and connections, and it can disadvantage voters who are looking for a true grassroots choice. The core question it raises, however—how do we best ensure we flip this district from red to blue?—is a valid one. I believe that question is sometimes driven by fear. My campaign is driven by a belief in our message and in the voters of this district. I believe we win by focusing on how we reach Independent and Republican voters, starting now.

To that end, let me propose a different kind of pledge. A pledge I am comfortable taking today: I pledge to fully and enthusiastically support the eventual Democratic nominee. That includes transferring any and all possible funds from my campaign to theirs, to ensure they have the resources to win in November. My number one goal is to see this district represented by a Democrat.

If I receive this other petition, I will consider it seriously. But until then, it's time to get back to work.