Hey John, 

How many people currently in Congress have ever identified as a freelancer or gig worker?

ZERO.

Kind of shocking, right? On the other hand, maybe not so shocking given that our political system is skewed at every level towards the wealthy and people with super-rich-friends. And, to be frank, gig economy workers are not exactly either of those things. I’d know because I used to be one!

Which means that I’m running to be the first freelancer ever in Congress. Will you chip in $21—the average hourly wage for gig workers right now—to help us bring that perspective to Washington?

Did you know that 36%—more than a third!—of the US workforce is part of the gig economy?

That’s why electing the first freelancer to Congress isn’t just a “cool thing” that we should do. We desperately need people who have real experience working an hourly wage, from paycheck to paycheck with no benefits or stability, because only they fully understand the stress, exhaustion, and frustration that the gig economy often brings with it.

I’m a millennial, which means I came of age and entered the workforce right when the gig economy really started to pick up steam. My first freelance gig was as a script writer and video editor making ads for Democrats. And let me tell you—it is scary! You have to hustle to get work. You’re on your own for healthcare and when your client decides they don’t want to pay you, uh...well...let’s say you have to write some strongly-worded emails.

But that experience ended up being extraordinarily valuable in ways I never could have guessed at the time. Living that uncertainty on a daily basis gave me a deep understanding and respect for people who work those freelance and gig jobs.

We need more folks in Congress who’ve had a vast array of work experiences—because that’s how we’ll protect workers of all stripes (hint: unions!) and support folks who step up and start small businesses from scratch.

Can you chip in whatever you’re able to help me be the first freelancer in Congress, where I’ll always fight to protect gig workers?

— Eddie