Friend,

I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving with family and friends. There was a lot to be thankful for this month: The striking workers at John Deere won a contract that may not be perfect, but boosts wages and improves working conditions. Not to mention, Democrats passed a historic infrastructure bill that secures more than $5 billion for Iowa's roads, bridges, broadband access, and more.

As always, we made it a point to visit as many different local party meetings and communities across the state as possible. I'm proud of how we're running this campaign -- we're not waiting for anyone's permission to engage in a conversation about a better future for all of us.

As we count down until the end of the year, we're confronting a major fundraising deadline. In January, the amount we raised this year will become public. Even though it might feel arbitrary, the amount we raise is an important metric that political pundits and the press will use to assess our campaign.

I appreciate all you've done, but with this important deadline looming, I need to ask you once again to help us meet the mark. Please take a look at the pictures below, then consider chipping in $3 to help me meet my November end-of-month goal that hits Tuesday night.

More soon,

Ras Smith
Democrat for Governor

 

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Thanks to the West Des Moines Democrats for welcoming me. We had a great conversation about the future of our state.

 

Enjoyed visiting with the leaders of Iowa Safe Schools. So grateful for their support for students across our state.

 

Ran into my good friend Julie Stauch at the Izaak Walton League banquet. Even came away with a starter pack for a backyard prairie (might have to wait until after the campaign)!

   

I stopped in Waverly for a visit with the Bremer County Democrats. It was great seeing so many friends and discussing our shared vision for Iowa. Special shout-out to the Wartburg College Democrats -- they're our future!

   

A morning meeting isn't complete without a good cup of coffee. I had a great time stopping at Slow Down Coffee Co. in Highland Park. They celebrated their first anniversary -- withstanding the pandemic due to community support.

 

I had the pleasure of being a guest on the first-ever live audience podcast of Three Rural White Guys in Mount Pleasant in the basement of the beautiful Theatre Museum. Made some history amongst history.

 

Our church held a pastor appreciation service for my faith leader, and mother Belinda Creighton-Smith. I appreciate her courage, leadership, and selflessness. Mom, you're the best!

 

When your family is as large as mine you’ve got to get creative so there aren’t any duplicate dishes at Thanksgiving. This year I tried my hand at honey chili glazed ham, pheasant sausage stuffing, Madagascan inspired ginger and garlic quail pate, cranberry sauce with orange and mint. Plus a few peach cobblers!

   

In addition to spending a good deal of time on the picket line with the workers at John Deere, I squeezed in a few game nights with the kids. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make it out hunting this season -- I think my dog was trying to tell me something.

Thanks for reading to the end.

As you can see, we're not wasting one moment on this campaign in our pursuit of a better future for all Iowans. If you're feeling motivated and want to join, the best way to help right now is with a grassroots donation of any size.

Please consider chipping in here. If you're unable, you can always forward this note to friends and family. It's greatly appreciated.

- Ras

 

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