Team,

Today I want to talk to you about who I am and what I stand for. I know your inbox has been bombarded with emails from my team explaining the importance and urgency of this election, but you need to hear from me about why I am the right candidate to replace Ron Kind and represent Wisconsin’s 3rd District.

I grew up in small-town Western Wisconsin on a dairy farm. Life on the farm wasn’t always easy, but it taught me the value of hard work, resilience, humility, and respect for my community. I have spent my professional career advocating and fighting for the people of rural Wisconsin, from working with Congressman Ron Kind and former Senator Herb Kohl on rural policy, Governor Evers’ Secretary of Agriculture to right now as a State Senator in Madison. When Ron Kind announced his retirement and asked me to fill his shoes, I knew it wouldn’t be easy- but I also knew it was something I needed to do to make sure we hold this seat..

I am running for Congress to fight for rural Wisconsin, expand access to quality and affordable health care, improve our infrastructure, advocate for our veterans, fight for women’s reproductive rights, and to protect our most vulnerable communities. My opponent could not be more wrong for our district. He lacks the character, the temperament, or the judgment to serve in Congress. Our democracy is on the ballot in November - I’m running to protect it, while Derrick Van Orden is running to burn Washington to the ground.