John,

My family came to Upstate New York over a century ago to work in the Endicott-Johnson Shoe Company’s plants. E-J’s built many of the houses in town–all with identical floor plans of about 900 square feet with three bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs and a side door leading to a washroom in the basement so workers could wash off without tracking filth through the house.

I grew up in one of those houses. I learned from my neighbors the value of hard work and the importance of staying humble and treating others with decency. They’re values that are missing in our politics these days.

As I was growing up, I saw the plants close down when good jobs were shipped overseas. Corrupt politicians cashed checks from Wall Street tycoons and then voted to do what was best for their bottom lines, not ours. While they scratched each other’s backs, Upstate New Yorkers got sold out. I’m sick of it.

So, John, I’m running for Congress to flip NY-19 from red to blue and give working families a fair shot to work hard and get ahead.

But, to win this seat — and to bring our Upstate New York values to Washington, I have to do one thing I wasn’t really taught to do growing up: ask for help.

Republican Marc Molinaro has already secured $640,000 for his re-election, largely from corporate PACs. Unlike Marc, I’m not taking a penny from corporate PACs, and that’s OK because I have you instead.

John, that’s why I need to ask for your help. Will you chip in $5 or more today to help our campaign start building the resources we need to flip New York’s 19th District from red to blue? I’d be honored to have your grassroots support.

With gratitude & high hopes,

Josh