John,

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, I don’t throw these words around lightly. Economic inequality is a matter of life and death ― during a pandemic and in less dire times. 

The federal government’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis has been a disaster, and we’re witnessing what anyone could have predicted: fend-for-yourself capitalism is failing us as a country. COVID-19 economic relief went to Big Business, the same folks that had already received huge tax breaks in the 2017 Tax Scam. Frankly, the $1,200 relief checks were a slap in the face to people desperate for a life line.  

John, I’ve been fighting for working-class West Virginians my entire adult life. It is disgusting to me that in the time of a global pandemic we have American citizens foregoing healthcare due to cost.

But this is all by design, and it won’t change until we change our elected leadership. Less than a year ago, my opponent, Senator Shelley Moore-Capito, released a video statement opposing a single-payer healthcare system. 

We have serious health care challenges, but blowing up the system is no way to fix it,” Capito posted on Facebook (you can watch it here).

Well John, I do think the current system should be blown up, because it’s not a healthcare system, it’s a system of profit for major corporations. It’s not making us healthier as individuals nor as a nation. Everyone in this country deserves the right to healthcare. There is nothing stopping us from making this a reality, other than greed, pure and simple.  

We recently won a tough, three-way primary election fueled by donations from supporters just like you. We didn’t take a dime of corporate PAC money. As the Democratic Nominee, that’s also how I’ll run my general election campaign, because it’s the only way we can break down the corrupt systems in place today. 

I promise, when I am in Washington, I will fight for Medicare for All and worker protections that not only provide relief for Americans but that also provide a more stable and equitable democracy for us all. 

I hope you’ll join me John.

Paula Jean

Our number one priority during this time is to do everything possible to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in West Virginia and across the country. Our campaign has created and is maintaining a COVID-19 Community Resource page, has canceled all in-person events, and is supporting local efforts to help those in need.