John, let me introduce myself:

My name is Joe Vogel and last month, I launched my campaign to represent Maryland’s 6th Congressional District. As a gay Gen-Z immigrant, people like me don’t usually have a seat at the table — but together, we can change that.

My commitment to our community and our democracy is rooted in the story of my family.

My great-grandparents were forced to leave their families behind and flee Europe on the eve of the Holocaust. My parents grew up under a repressive military dictatorship in Uruguay, but that didn’t stop them from pursuing an education. They became the first in their families to graduate from high school, which opened the doors that allowed my family to immigrate here — to Maryland.

At fifteen, I volunteered for President Barack Obama’s campaign, and in my first year of college, I became one of Hillary Clinton’s youngest staffers in the hopes of sending the first woman to the Oval Office.

I didn’t give up when Donald Trump won. Instead, I doubled down on my commitment to fighting for the future of our country.

I became a United States citizen one week after the 2016 election and jumped into the fight for gun violence prevention, reproductive rights, and LGBTQ equality. I went to work for Senator Cory Booker and then-Vice President Joe Biden to defeat Donald Trump and restore faith in our democracy.

In the state legislature, I’ve taken on the big fights to invest in mental health resources, combat hate crimes, and fight the fentanyl overdose epidemic.

The challenges our country faces call for a new generation of proven problem solvers who are ready to get the job done. Right now, we’re in the fight to defend our democracy, to protect our fundamental freedoms, and to keep our children safe — but it’s clear that politics as usual just isn’t working. That’s why I’m running for Congress, because real solutions to our greatest challenges just can’t wait.

Together, we can strengthen our democracy, create a brighter future for this country, and elect the second Gen-Z congressman in United States history.

Thanks for your support,

Joe Vogel
Candidate for Congress, MD-06