With everything going on right now, I wanted to touch base.

I'm sure you've heard that Michigan has identified our first confirmed cases of COVID-19, or Coronavirus, and that Governor Whitmer and our public health experts are recommending that we not attend gatherings of more than 100 people. 

With the outpouring of support and enthusiasm that we've received since announcing our campaign kickoff, it was clear that the event would end up past that cutoff. We have made the tough decision to postpone our kickoff, previously scheduled for next Thursday, March 19th, to prioritize the health and safety of our community.

While we do not have a new date for the kickoff set just yet, I do know this: the importance of the November election is not going away.

Just yesterday, while we should have been taking action to support our public health institutions and those who will be most impacted by this pandemic, House Republicans passed a resolution urging the federal government to appeal the decision that struck down the Medicaid work requirements. This would result in tens of thousands of Michiganders losing their healthcare.

This is after Republican leadership gutted the citizens-initiated paid sick leave measure in 2018 instead of letting voters pass it into law.

We need to do everything in our power to ensure that every Michigander has access to affordable, quality medical care, right now and always. Republicans have used their tenure in the majority to do just the opposite.

And so, for today we need to control our controllables. Wash your hands frequently, avoid large groups, and check out www.michigan.gov/coronavirus to stay updated on recommendations and developments.

But keep the end goal in mind. It's time for legislative leadership that focuses on solutions and prioritizes people. We still need to fundraise, we still need to run good campaigns, and we still need to elect a Democratic majority to the State House this November.

I'm looking forward to gathering to celebrate the kickoff of our campaign with you soon. We'll be in touch! 

Best,