Hi John,

If we haven’t met, my name is Susanna Gibson. I am one of the countless women in America lucky enough to have crossed paths with Her Bold Move. But I want to make sure you know my story…

Her Bold Move first endorsed me while I was running for a State Delegate seat in Virginia. Polls showed I was on track to win in my Republican-leaning district, and I had earned support from every major institutional endorsement organization… until my campaign was derailed by a uniquely sexist and horrifying attack.

Her Bold Move is a deeply needed organization for women across our country. Before I explain, will you join me in uplifting this extraordinary organization by pitching in $20.25 or more today?

Here is what happened:

In the final weeks of my run for office, I found out I had been the target of nonconsensual pornography, nonconsensual distribution of intimate images, and severe image-based sexual abuse both online and in person.

In fact, the Republican Party of Virginia – yes, the official state Republican party – sent out explicit photos of me to thousands of homes in my district. My neighbors’ homes.

Here is a look at what I went through in the wake of these attacks:

❌ I received hundreds of phone calls and social media messages that included threats of rape and death.
❌ My children had to have security stay with them at school for weeks.
❌ I was forced to leave my job as a nurse practitioner.
❌ My nightmare became gossip fodder for national and international publications.
❌ I had to leave the state to escape reporters and threatening strangers showing up at my house.
❌ I was unable to meet with voters for three weeks during the height of election season.

Male candidates do not experience this type of sexual harassment or abuse when they run for office. But here’s the thing: we need women to run for office now more than ever before. Stories like mine are the reason many women don’t. Women candidates need more support. Help me make sure they get it by donating to Her Bold Move today. →

Her Bold Move is an amazing resource. They understood that their role in my campaign had become more important than ever – that I was the victim of a sexist attack reserved for women candidates. They renewed their support for me and encouraged other endorsers to follow their lead, they checked in on me constantly, and they helped me fundraise when institutions were actually pulling funding from my campaign. At one of the loneliest times of my life, the HBM team made me feel less alone. I hope every woman candidate will take advantage of what HBM can offer.

Despite everything I outlined above – I was only 715 votes shy of winning that seat in the Virginia House of Delegates. It’s frustrating to imagine how the outcome might have been different if more orgs had followed Her Bold Move’s lead. We could have avoided electing one more anti-choice legislator in my state – a state with razor-thin margins for Democrats.

Running for office as a woman can be dangerous and scary. The political landscape is a safer and more supportive place for women with Her Bold Move at the forefront.

I am so grateful for the work that Her Bold Move is doing to defend and empower women like me – and I want to make sure they can continue to do so as more women run for office and desperately need HBM’s critical resources. Join me in supporting this important organization by pitching in $20.25 or more today!

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Thank you,

Susanna Gibson