Dear Democrats,
I grew up in the Sandia Mountains, east of Albuquerque. My family didn’t have much. My father had a good job at Sandia Labs, but my mother had to work, too, to keep us afloat. She left teaching to work as a waitress at Bella Vista—not because she wanted to, but because it made daycare more affordable while still bringing in a wage.
Even with that, there were nights when dinner was just a bowl of cereal.
And yet—because of public education—I was able to go to UNM for my bachelor’s and then a master's at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. The son of a waitress interned on Capitol Hill for Congressman Ben Ray Luján. A mountain kid from New Mexico met the President of the United States.
Why? Because of public education.
And my story is far from unique. Millions of working-class kids have been able to get a degree, find a good job, and build a life because of public education.
That’s why, when I see our schools being targeted by some rich kid named Trump from New York City—a guy whose family was worth $250 million before he even cashed his first check—I get more than a little enraged.
Today, Donald Trump is expected to sign an order eliminating the Department of Education—gutting funding for 50 million students, slashing resources for working families, and wiping out student loan relief.
And just last week? He cut the department’s staff in half. Because when it comes to working people, Trump’s agenda is simple: destroy, defund, and privatize.
This is what it means in real terms:
📉 Education is the #1 driver of upward mobility—but without federal support, low-income students are 260% less likely to attend college.
💰 Schools in low-income districts already receive $1,000 less per student than wealthier districts. Trump’s cuts will make that gap even worse.
🎓 43 million Americans rely on federal student loan relief. Trump’s plan would wipe those programs out.
Public education is the great equalizer in America. It’s what gives kids from working-class families a shot at the middle class. It’s what helps people earn a living wage, own a home, and retire with dignity.
Trump and his billionaire donors don’t want that. They want a system where the rich get richer and working people get left behind. We cannot let that happen.
This fight isn’t just about politics. It’s about our kids’ futures. If you believe every child deserves a quality education, now is the time to act.
Here’s how you can help right now:
📢 Sign up to volunteer with our new No Talk Without Action program. We’re building an army of volunteers to take the fight to every neighborhood, every street, every home. [SIGN UP HERE]
💙 Chip in whatever you can. We know—another donation email. Every dollar you give directly funds our organizing, outreach, and voter mobilization efforts. And that’s how we win. [DONATE NOW]
