Friends,

Our campaign team has been hard at work developing a safe response to the Coronavirus. Yesterday, we made the announcement on social media, and I'm happy to announce that other candidates are following our lead.
 

Suspending In-Person Canvasses

We are suspending our statewide in-person campaign canvasses to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19, the disease caused by the Coronavirus. We will be shifting our resources to reach voters in safer ways until the outbreak is contained.

We need to deal with the effects of this disease and protect our state. Our seniors are most vulnerable, and we need to take immediate steps to reduce unnecessary exposure to the Coronavirus. We must also support the many Missourians who are not guaranteed paid sick leave, who have less resources, and who work in jobs that will be most impacted by this pandemic.

Our campaign and our volunteers stand ready to provide any assistance to the government. We need to come together as a state and country to protect our people.
 

Organizing Volunteers to Serve Our State

We're going to be organizing volunteer activities during the Coronavirus outbreak to help our most vulnerable neighbors and reduce isolation.

1) We are going to help you organize phone calls and texts, especially to Missouri seniors and families who will be most impacted by the disruption of services. This is a great way to actively reach out to folks, reduce isolation, and help connect those most in need with available assistance.

2) We will help you organize online meetings. A lot of groups have had to cancel their regular in-person meetings but still want to connect with their community. Having traveled to over 400 of them all over our state, I know these events are so important. We'll help you set them up online, and I'd be happy to participate too if you'd like!

3) We are going to make educational social media posts about the virus and take out ads to get the word out to Missourians. There's a lot we can do to prevent the spread of the disease. And we've got some great models to teach us how to really wash our hands!

4) Whatever ideas you have! We're here to help.

If you'd like to get involved, even just for a little bit, please send me an email at [email protected] or, if you prefer, text me directly at 314-753-9033.
 

Recommendations for Our Government

Additionally, we are offering a few recommendations for our government to urgently consider to protect Missourians’ wellbeing and rights.
 

No-Excuse Absentee Voting and Voting by Mail

First, our government should quickly move to protect our right to vote. The legislature should immediately pass and the governor should quickly sign a law to allow no-excuse absentee voting and voting by mail. These are reforms that have already been enacted in other states, and they would reduce exposure to the virus.
 

Expand Access to Affordable Health Care and Rural Care

Second, our government should expand access to affordable health care. We can expand Medicaid to cover 200,000 vulnerable Missourians and reinstate health care coverage for 100,000 children who lost it over the last year. Expanding Medicaid or at least providing funding to rural hospitals would keep them operating to treat more Missourians. Folks without health coverage are less likely to seek medical assistance when they are sick, greatly increasing the risk for the entire population and the risk of harm. As soon as possible, our government needs to ensure that free testing and treatment for the Coronavirus is available and inform the public.
 

Emergency Economic Relief Program

Third, our government must work with the federal government to prepare an emergency economic relief program for those whose livelihoods will be most impacted by the virus. We need to eliminate the enormous financial pressure Missourians are facing to go to work even if they are sick, and we need to make sure that families that are food insecure have access to resources.
 

Other Resources

Missourians can use the statewide hotline for the Coronavirus by calling 877-435-8411. Americans can also learn more about the Coronavirus from the CDC at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

America has overcome challenges like this before. The fear sweeping our country is real because of how much we value each other, and that sense of community is our biggest strength in times like these. Together, united, we will overcome this challenge too.

Yours,
Elad