John,

When I launched this campaign, my team and I decided to do something completely different from most other campaigns in politics today. I shared a story of one of the most personal and intimate moments of my life, opening up about the circumstances in which I decided to have a medical abortion when I was 19 years old.

The traditional playbook offered by the standard tired, conventional consultants with the same tired, conventional advice is to hit people over the head with fake urgency, calls to “fight” and to avoid being honest, open, or vulnerable—such things are signs of weakness to the consultant and donor class.

Well, I’m not running for office just to hold office, like most politicians. Holding office is important, they say, because otherwise some really bad people will be able to do things that we don’t like or disagree with. So we are asked to accept the rules of the game as they have been written by the people who stand to gain the most from winning: the elite donors, inside-the-Beltway consultants, corporate lobbyists, and party kingmakers.

I’m just not interested in playing the game this way, or at all really. When me or my team write to you, it’s because we want to share something important, or because we want to ask you to contribute for reasons we believe are worthy of your investment.

After we sent our first email in which I shared my story, hundreds of people wrote back sharing their own stories or sending sympathy, love, and solidarity. No matter what happens in this campaign, I will never forget the kindness so many showed at that moment.

But as with all things, there is a dark side to contrast the bright; and not to dwell on the negative, but here are just a few of the comments we received from folks who didn’t appreciate a young woman opening up about a sensitive, politically-charged topic like abortion:

“F*&k off, Britt”

“Get f*&$ed, stupid woman”

“You are pitiful”

“You chose to kill your own child, because you couldn’t be bothered to change your life”

I’m running for office because my community needs me. I’m running because voices like mine are too often neglected, ignored, or deliberately sidelined. And I’m running because we can’t afford to wait any longer to make a real difference in people’s lives.

The politician I am running against is a dangerous extremist; she supports anti-choice policies and state laws that mandate forced birth under all circumstances. Louisiana has the harshest abortion laws in the country, and she wholeheartedly supports them.

But we can make a difference, together, if we work to replace her this year—and that’s why I need your help in this campaign, John. It would mean so much to me and to young leaders everywhere if you can support my run with a donation of $10 or whatever you can afford to give right now:

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It shouldn’t be this hard to run an open and honest campaign, but it’s a sad reality in America today that being a young, progressive woman puts a target on your back. But I feel secure and strong knowing that you and thousands of other supporters are with me in this.

Thank you so much.

-Britt