Hello,

I'm going to let you in on a little secret… Every Election Day, before going to bed, I write a note to my daughters. I try to put into context, for them, what has happened. And I try to help them understand why I continue to do the work that I'm doing.

This year, as I wrote to them, I shared that elections – and campaigns – are about choices. Do we choose unity or division? Do we push for progress or political point-scoring? Do we take a positive high-road or a negative low-road? Do we demonstrate civility?

I'm humbled that the voters of Washington's 6th District chose to re-elect me. I'm grateful for the choice they made. But even though it was my name on the ballot, their choice was about all of us. It was about the future we want – not just for my kids but for our entire country.

My most important message to my daughters – and to you – is simple: THANK YOU!

I'm incredibly grateful to you, friend, and every member of Team Kilmer. This election year was unique, to say the least, but we persevered and got the job done. Thank you to our amazing political director, Colin McCann, our stupendous campaign staff, our phenomenal interns, and our wonderful volunteers. Everyone who moved their efforts online, made calls, put up signs, and gave their time, sweat, and pocketbook to the cause. Everyone who spoke to friends and neighbors about what's at stake.

We couldn't have done this without you. So thank you again.

While some of the outcomes around the country are not yet known, there are some things of which we should be certain. Now is our chance to hit the ground running — to defend and expand affordable health care, provide COVID-19 relief that millions of Americans have been waiting for, secure equal rights for all Americans and address systemic inequities that have lasted far too long, and rise to the challenge of climate change.

For much of the past year, I've stared at a quote from Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. He wrote, "There is a difference between optimism and hope. Optimism is the belief that things will get better. Hope is the belief that, together, we can make things better. Optimism is a passive virtue, hope an active one. It takes no courage to be an optimist, but it takes a great deal of courage to have hope."

I have hope for our country. It's going to be hard work, but I'm as hopeful as ever about what we can get done if we keep working together.

And I'm proud to have you on my side. More soon — for now, thank you.

It's an honor to represent you,

Derek

P.S. We will be picking up signs over the next week. If you have one or have picked one up that we can come get, just let us know!

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People for Derek Kilmer
PO Box 1381
Tacoma WA 98402 United States

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