People always ask me why I choose to do what I do.

Well, for me, politics is personal.

Over 40 years ago, I was in a serious car accident, and caregivers at Maryland Shock Trauma saved my life. I asked what I could do to give back, and they told me to run for political office -- so I did. Since then, I have fought for shock trauma centers to get the funding they need to provide the same level of care they gave to me to others in need.

Social Security and Medicare are also deeply personal to me. My mother is 97 years old, and I’m fortunate that she is still a big presence in my life, my children’s lives, and my grandchildren’s lives. It’s for that reason that I’m committed to protecting the benefits our seniors rely on.

And for me, climate change isn’t some far-off or abstract concept. When I think about the climate crisis, I think about my grandson Charlie, and I wonder whether he will get to experience the Chesapeake Bay that I’ve known my entire life. That’s why I support the Green New Deal -- for Charlie’s sake and his entire generation.

I know I’m not alone. For so many, politics are personal.

That’s why I do this job. When I speak to voters, I hear the ways the government personally impacts their lives every day, and I work to be a voice for them in Washington.

I want to continue to be that voice. Will you take a moment to help by making a contribution to my campaign before the FEC deadline? It would make a huge difference.

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Your friend,

Dutch