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Hi John, can I share a picture with you?
This is me at 13, in all my “glory” at my Bar Mitzvah.
It’s easy to chuckle at this photo — and see just how far fashion has changed since that classic absolutely righteous 1970s bowtie — but it is also an opportunity to tell you about my upbringing.
My family moved around while I was in school before settling in Danville, California. My parents and my teachers cultivated in me a love of and respect for public service.
While in speech class, I remember listening to recordings of great speakers like President John F. Kennedy, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Winston Churchill. I admired the way they used language — how they could inspire millions of people to take action through the power of their words.
I wanted to use words — and actions — in the service of progressive change. And I wanted to be part of the great struggle for the future.
After graduating high school (I was not valedictorian as some have claimed — my B in Band held me back), I went on to college and law school. There, I learned how to gather the facts and argue my case.
After law school, I was inspired by friends serving in office and decided I was ready to try. I ran for the California Assembly.
And, John, I lost.
It was bruising to lose, but I didn’t give up. And then, I lost again. But I refused to give up hope.
I continued campaigning and rallying — and just two years later, I was elected to represent the 21st District in the State Senate. I was sworn in as the California Senate’s youngest member at just 36 years old.
After the term finished, I threw my hat in the ring to take on the Republican incumbent in California’s 27th Congressional District. This was seen as one of the seats that could decide the House majority. Money poured into this election — the most expensive in history at the time. I barnstormed the district — speaking with voters to share our message.
Those long months of hard work paid off: Despite the election of George W. Bush as president and Republicans maintaining their House majority, we flipped that seat and won that race, and I became only the second Democrat to represent the district in history.
I’ve taken a lot of tough fights in my time, John — and it’s all been in the name of giving back. We have a saying as part of my Jewish faith — “Tikkun Olam,” or repairing the world.
There’s a lot that’s been broken, and a lot to fix. I’m ready to do my part to leave our state and country in a better place, and to repair our broken democracy, but I can’t do it alone.
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Thank you,
Adam
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