Friends,

I remember one Easter, some folks at my family’s congregation said they couldn’t come to church because they couldn’t afford to buy and wear their “Sunday best.” My mom, our pastor, got right on the phone and told them, “No, no no, just come as you are.” That stuck with me.

That Easter, my parents wore jeans and t-shirts to church. They didn’t want clothes or money to be the barrier for folks attending church and participating in the community.

So today, I’m inviting you all to be a part of this campaign, this movement, and to “come as you are.” You don’t have to be perfect or have it all figured out. You don’t need to have fear about saying the wrong thing. You don’t have to wear a cape or have an S on your chest. I don’t care when you last voted or who you voted for. I just need your commitment to work for a better Iowa, however you can.

As I run for governor, I look to Iowa’s long history of standing up for what’s right. We have a heritage of courage. From desegregating schools before the federal government, to embracing wind energy, to recognizing that love is love — Iowans should be proud of our heritage.

Together, I know that Iowans have the innovation and the spirit to find solutions to our common struggles. We can invest in not just schools, but in every single student’s needs. We can provide opportunities for folks to make not just $15 an hour, but $50,000 a year so they can start looking beyond the next paycheck and plan for the next generation.

This is a people-powered movement that will rely on grassroots support.

That’s why I ask: will you chip in $5 or whatever you can afford today to become a founding donor of this campaign? It would mean so much to me to have you on board.

Thanks for showing up and giving anything you can to support my efforts to become Iowa’s next governor and move us forward. This campaign is for you, so come as you are.

— Ras