What a third quarter it was for Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. Not because of their poll numbers or platforms, but because together they raised more money ($50 million) than the next three more moderate candidates combined (Biden, Harris, Buttigieg). And they did it while refusing any PAC/corporate money and holding no closed-door fundraisers with the rich donor class.

Warren and Sanders also eclipsed their competition by collecting donations – often small donations – from well more than a million different individuals. This is a feat we must replicate in my 7th Congressional District (CA-7) race against the corporate-backed Ami Bera. We know we won’t ever outraise Ami Bera, but we should – and can – raise from more individual local contributors.

Start with a small donation of $10. Or perhaps $28 in honor of the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that I am running on. My election reform amendment reflects the principled campaign fundraising pledge I’ve taken: to accept donations only from voters in the district. In other words, no PACs, no corporations, and no donations from individuals outside our district. This means my support for issues like Medicare for All, the Green New Deal and Comprehensive Drug Cost Reform is pure and unconnected to any special interest influence. This is the exact opposite of Ami Bera, who takes donations from Goldman Sachs, PG&E, the opioids industry and the corporatized health care industry.

Those organizations do not represent the values of most voters in Sacramento County, or really anywhere. So let’s not reward politicians like Bera who happily court money from the dark side. Counter his big corporate and rich outside donors with lots of smaller donations from within our communities.

Because ultimately that is what this election is all about. Do the voters of the CA-7 want to be represented in Congress by a corporate-backed, partial Republican like Bera, or by a principled, True Blue Democrat like me?

The answer is clear: Jeff Burdick – For Us! For Congress! Please donate today.

Sincerely,