I hope you will indulge a slightly longer email today, because I believe this message is very important. Let me explain.
When Kathy first told me that she was planning to run again for Congress in Missouri’s 8th District, I asked the same question that many of you probably have -- why? It didn’t take long for Kathy to convince me this was the right decision. We all saw the progress that occurred in the 8th District last cycle: passing an increase of the minimum wage, soundly defeating right-to-work, and supporting strong reforms to campaign finance and gerrymandering.
When we witnessed the positive results of 2018, we knew we couldn’t quit now. There is still so much work to do.
We’re working hard to build a strong, progressive campaign that centers the needs of actual people and, because of that, we’re not taking a single dime of corporate PAC money.
The same can’t be said about our opponent. In fact, since the start of this year, Jason Smith has already taken an eye-popping $363,100 of PAC money, with most coming from Big Pharma, Health Insurance Corporations, and Big Agriculture. You read that right: Rep. Smith has already taken over a quarter-million dollars in PAC donations from wealthy corporate interests.
Last quarter alone, Kathy Ellis had 263 contributions from individuals, with an average donation amount of $126. And $0 from corporate PACs.
This campaign is about the needs of the people--not corporations. While our opponent has corporate dollars on his side, we have the support of thousands of people across this country. That means we need your support.
Here’s our ask of you: Jason Smith has received a mere 79 contributions from individuals this year. Can you help us exceed that total in just one week? Pitch in whatever you can today to help us reach our goal by next Friday.
This is how we win the hearts and minds of a majority of voters in Missouri and throughout the country -- by coming together and supporting those who put people, not corporations, first.
Taylor
Campaign Manager
Ellis for Congress
