Team,

Two years ago, I was chosen to serve as an impeachment manager for Donald Trump’s first trial.

I’ll never forget that day. It was my first term in Congress, and I was preparing to take on the President of the United States and the stunning allegations that he used his position to pressure a foreign country into investigating a political rival.

I’ve always gone where the fight is, and I wasn’t about to stop now.

My oath to uphold and defend the Constitution has always been my guiding light – both in the military and the halls of Congress – and it was something I leaned on strongly during the trial.

Throughout the trial, I carried with me copies of my children’s Constitutions. I left the following message inside:

“Our system only works if people stand up and fight for it. Fighting for something important always comes at a cost. Someday you may be called upon to defend the principles and ideas embodied in our Constitution. May the memory and spirit of those who sacrificed for them in the past guide you and give you strength as you fight for them in the future.”

Every day, I make a conscious decision on how to fulfill my oath. Some days that means standing litigating the third impeachment trial in our nation’s history. Other days it’s pushing for voting rights legislation to ensure every citizen is able to participate in our democracy.

Our democracy is fragile. Let’s all remember to stand up and fight for it.

Jason