Hi John,

I had an...interesting...endorsement meeting yesterday.

My Democratic opponent Derek Kilmer went before me and spent a great deal of time talking about how much money he’s given the DCCC and the WA Democratic Party — as if buying favors is a good thing. These are the “democratic” organizations who have blacklisted my campaign, making it harder to raise money, hire team members, and reach voters.

I don’t believe that politics should be “pay to play.” I believe it’s “whoever serves the people best should win.” If you agree, please donate $7 now, so I can win and send Kilmer and the entire establishment a message that our democracy isn’t for sale.

Kilmer also described himself as a leader on getting money out of politics.

So when I went next, I decided to come out swinging by introducing myself and saying that I’m the only Democrat in the race who supports Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, and who hasn’t taken $3 million from corporate PACs.

I then got questions from Kilmer loyalists like:

"Who do you think you are?" I’m the only Democrat in the race who isn’t a corporate sellout.
“The DCCC and WA Democratic Party are incumbent-funded organizations, so isn't it fair for them to protect incumbents? Aren’t you just sour grapes?” I've put in sweat equity by volunteering as a canvasser on WA Dem and DCCC-supported races and just because I'm not sitting on $3.5 million doesn't mean I shouldn't have some say in the direction of these “democratic” organizations.
"OK, but don't you think seniority matters in Congress?" We have the two counties with the highest opioid death rates in the state, mass homelessness, and seniors living in poverty. What has Kilmer’s seniority gotten us?

I received a report that one man at the meeting later said that I should "not aspire so high" and he would have liked to see me “in a smaller race.”

Translation: these uppity women are getting out of line.

This is why it's 2020 and I'm the first woman to run for this seat.

As my younger self would have said:

I have some news for the doubters: I am running for the senior in Tacoma living on $700/month. I am running for the young father in Grays Harbor who died waiting in line for drug treatment. I am running for the grocery store workers on Bainbridge who can’t afford to live on Bainbridge. No amount of hypocritical attacks will stop me, and I’m going to win.

Donate now and let’s show them the times are changing.

Thank you,

-Rebecca Parson
Democrat for Congress, WA-06
Tacoma, Gig Harbor, Kitsap County & the Olympic Peninsula
Vote July 17-August 4, 2020

P.S. If you like uppity women who get out of line and persist in aiming high, please donate $7 now so I can win:

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/rebeccaforwa-email