John,

I won’t take up too much of your relaxation time, but I'd like to share some of my thoughts about what this holiday means in our current political climate.

This Fourth of July feels different, for me and millions of Americans. It’s right on the heels of the horrifying reversal of Roe and a wave of far-right restrictions on individual freedom.

Freedom comes with a price. I served in the Navy for 20 years because I want my daughter, and every other American, to count on the same rights and freedoms as I did.

And now, in a mockery of the values I fought for, the GOP is attempting to dismantle many of those rights. We can’t let this stand.

I hope you’ll join me in my fight to defend VA-02 from my anti-choice challenger – and keep anti-choice extremists out of Congress. It's time to restore goodwill, openness, and integrity to Washington.

Today, I’m wishing you a relaxing and safe July 4th with your loved ones. And in the spirit of the day, let’s remember: there’s always a way forward together.

All the best,
Elaine