Friend,

I'll never forget the conversations I had with my family the night of the 2016 election. The next morning, I promised my daughters I would do whatever it took to help repair our country.

So I launched an unlikely campaign to challenge a popular incumbent for Congress.

From day one, I knew we needed to run a different kind of campaign – one that listened to people rather than special interests and national parties.

Politics and “angertainment” had driven us into corners, and I wanted to invite people back out to find common ground with one another.

So I bought an old 1960 International Harvester delivery van, renamed it the Government Repair Truck, and drove it all around Minnesota’s Third District talking with people along the way. Some were Democrats. Some were Republicans. Many were independents.

But while their politics may have differed, everyone I encountered seemed to have the same nagging feeling that their representative wasn’t listening to them.

He took millions from insurance and drug companies and voted to gut the Affordable Care Act. He took thousands from the NRA and voted 21 times (21!?) to let people on the terrorist watch list buy guns. He talked a lot about being a regular, moderate guy, then voted with Trump 98% of the time.

Our district deserved better representation. So we got to work.

We built our campaign on a hope that’s all too rare in national politics: that if representatives brought people of all political stripes together and listened to their hopes, dreams, and concerns, that we could repair our country’s wounds and make progress on the common-ground issues we all care about.

Ending the corrupting influence of big money in politics. Ensuring every child can receive a great education. Making health care and prescription drugs more affordable. Reducing gun violence and increasing public safety. Investing in sustainable energy and a healthy planet for future generations.

All Americans want these things – they just need representation in Congress that’s beholden to them, not big money and special interests.

That's why I'm reaching out today, Friend: to remind you why we're here and to ask you to be a part of the next chapter of our work together. I don't take a dime from PACs, lobbyists, or other members of Congress – and I never will – so please chip in to my campaign before our end-of-quarter deadline, tomorrow, if you still believe in it.

In 2018, plenty of national Democrats told me I was doing it wrong. They told me to run a hyper-partisan campaign and take help from outside money groups.

This was one case where I didn't listen. I had faith that my supporters would have my back when the campaign needed to raise money – and now is one of those times.

We need to report our quarterly fundraising numbers to the FEC soon, and we are a few thousand dollars behind.

So if you've still got my back, please chip in before midnight tomorrow to help close the gap.

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Asking for money is an unfortunate but necessary part of running for office, and I'm grateful for whatever you can invest in our people-powered campaign.

With gratitude,

Dean