James,

You might have seen recent remarks from Wisconsin Republican Congressman Glenn Grothman recently in which he said he wants to “work our way back” to the 1960s, attacked funding for childcare programs, and claimed that poverty reduction policies “took the purpose out of the man’s life.”

Before I ask you to donate to my campaign for Congress, I’d like to explain why his attack on policies that help families is so personal to me.

I grew up in a working class family here in Wisconsin. When I was young, my mom was stuck in a marriage with an abusive alcoholic. She had two small daughters and no way to get out of the relationship – she couldn’t even have a bank account in the early 1970s. After my dad passed, we struggled financially, a situation I know too many families can still relate to today.

That is what Glenn Grothman wants to take us back to – a country where women aren’t able to escape abusive relationships because we don’t have access to or control over our own money.

And he isn’t alone: A growing number of Republicans including Trump’s new VP pick, J.D. Vance, are pushing to end no-fault divorce, which would make it more difficult for women to leave these relationships.

My mom never got to meet my four sons, who have so much purpose. I am so proud of the men they have grown into, and of their drive to make the world a better place. For Glenn Grothman to suggest that they are somehow worse off because of policies that make women’s lives better is abominable.

The reality is that we’ve come a long way since the days when my mom wasn’t able to get out of a marriage she needed to leave – but we still have a long way to go. In Congress, I’ll prioritize policies that support families and help people thrive, not ones that deliberately take us backwards.

So I’m asking: Will you help me get to Congress and fight for progress? Every dollar will make a difference.

Thank you,

Kristin Lyerly

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