(And if you're not on Instagram, here it is on Twitter!)

The core belief driving my campaign is that we’ve got to Rebuild the Middle. That means rebuilding the middle of our politics and rebuilding the middle of our economy. After all, the middle class is the backbone of America - and three things built the middle class after the Second World War: labor unions, the GI Bill, and community colleges.

I believe that we need to find common ground by building on common facts, and that's why I was sort of stunned - but not surprised - to see my opponent, Nick LaLota, fire off an email claiming that he's been great for labor. Here's a reality check for Nick: He's got a 10 percent rating from the AFL-CIO. That's a failing grade by any measure.

In fact, LaLota voted to cut law enforcement and teachers. And the agenda from LaLota’s Republican Study Committee and Project 2025 would be a hammer blow to working families – abolishing public sector unions and collective bargaining and cutting Social Security and Medicare.

It’s time for a better approach that can bring us together, promoting a real pro‑family agenda that lowers the costs for families to bring kids into this world, and then expands child tax credits and builds more housing to make it just a bit easier to raise their children. It’s all part of an agenda to lower the cost of living and improve the quality of life here on Long Island and across the country.

Let’s move away from the extremes this Labor Day. Let's reclaim the American Flag and truthfully say that we respect labor unions and American workers.

Because we know that America works best when we work together so we can build a country where everyone who works hard and plays by the rules can achieve their own American dream.

-John