John,

My Republican opponents are at it again – calling me a “socialist” and trying to smear our campaign.

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Here’s the background: Last March, at the end of Q1, we were coming off the longest government shutdown in history, and I had not raised money or hit any of the goals set for my campaign. I refused to fundraise while the federal government was shut down, and I was very vocal about that. I was spending my time sitting gavel to gavel at my committee hearings, reading every piece of legislation and letter I was asked to support, and attending briefings and meetings to be a voice for my constituents – you know, actually doing my job.

At the time, campaigning was the last thing on my mind. My colleague, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, tweeted at her online supporters to help my campaign before the end of the quarter – and over three thousand people responded by sending small-dollar donations totaling over $35,000 my way.

Fast forward eleven months: A reporter asked me about the support from my colleague. Since the original tweet had been widely reported eleven months earlier, I believed this inquiry was a reference to something recent – and my response was that I was not aware she was raising money for me.

Now, this out-of-the-blue question about a tweet from a year ago is fueling a news cycle – and GOP campaigns – here in CT-05.

There is nothing unusual about Members of Congress supporting their colleagues – It is actually the norm. To try and make this a controversy shows a unique level of desperation. Republicans insist on calling me names, trying to smear my integrity, tweeting at the National Republican Campaign Committee to get attention and anything else they can do because they know they can’t beat me on the issues or my voting record... and they know our campaign is strong. Lucky for me, more than a decade of high school teaching has prepared me for cafeteria name calling and my response is the same...

Set the record straight, educate, move on!

I remain committed to the work I set out to do: From speaking out for everyone and ensuring all voices are heard, to advocating for change and working as hard as I can to lower healthcare costs, ensure students have access to quality education, and expand opportunities to every family in CT-05.

That is who I am. That is who you elected. And I am proud that you are still part of the grassroots team at my side. But these unfounded attacks are only the beginning of what we will be facing over the next few months, and I need to be prepared to dispel all the misinformation that is spewed.

Help keep me in the strongest possible position to defend this seat by donating $3 to my campaign right now. It’s been a great year, but we have so much more work to do.

John, can you help fuel our rapid response fund so we have what it takes to respond to Connecticut Republicans’ vitriolic attacks on our campaign? [[link removed]]

DONATE $3 [[link removed]]

THANK YOU for your continued support.

-- Jahana
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