Hi John,

Being at the DNC with my team was every bit as energizing and inspiring as I had imagined – and then some!

And now that I’m back in Vermont, I wanted to share some thoughts with you.

There was joy, there was excitement. But the more powerful and more lasting take away from the DNC was the feeling that we don’t actually want to hate our neighbors.

This is something Vermonters have been saying for years. It hurts us mentally, emotionally and physically, and it makes us doubt that there is any goodness left in the world.

The Harris-Walz ticket has tapped into something that has been bubbling for years. We are starved for more joy because we know grievance politics do not serve us.

When I ran for Congress and crisscrossed Vermont making the case for my candidacy, I heard from so many voters that they were exhausted from politics based on hate and fear. They’d say to me, “I don’t want to hate my neighbors.” People wanted to be able to talk to their neighbors about ideas and opinions and not have it be so damn personal.

They weren’t blind to the fact that there are real policy disagreements that inflame passions, but they could see that the constant onslaught of fear, anger and hatred was hurting us – individually and as a nation.

I adopted the slogan “Courage and Kindness” for my campaign to reflect how I felt and what voters were telling me. It feels better in our bodies and minds to have a positive outlook, and we want more of that.

I saw this feeling and focus build throughout the week of the convention. Americans are ready to turn the page on the negativity and grievance that has gripped so many for so long. We want to be a nation once again focused on freedom – and the joy that comes from that freedom.

And this November, we’ll move forward – together – as a nation and elect Kamala Harris. Let’s do this!

Becca