John — over the decades that I’ve been on the diamond, baseball has taught me a lot about myself and the world around me.

This journey hasn’t been an easy one, full of twists and turns, and to still play baseball at a high level at the age of 45 takes a lot of resilience. I thought I was done and put my cleats up — and yet here I am, still throwing and playing the game I love. Still proud of the 87-mile per hour sinkers I can throw.

Battling adversity isn’t something I’m unfamiliar with, John. Whether it’s grinding in the weight room or against a tough batter half my age, I know that the tenacity I’ve built is what will help me push through.

But the most important lesson I’ve learned? The best victories are won fair and square.

An equal playing field is imperative, and that’s the lesson that I use every day in my legislative work. Right now, we aren’t on one; corporations are getting away with highway robbery and widening the wealth gap. Our communities are struggling and we need intentional policies that stand up for working families across Iowa.

I’m in this fight to level the playing field. That’s why I refuse to take corporate PAC money. This agenda isn’t built for billionaires, it’s built for working class, beer-drinking, baseball-loving Iowans like me — just working to make ends meet. 

I’m glad we’re on the same team,

—J.D.