John,

Making the decision to run for Senate wasn't easy. I was trained to be a nurse: to care for patients, to comfort families through difficult moments, and to treat sickness with compassion and honesty. Serving as a nurse was my dream for as long as I can remember.

Running for office or walking the halls of Congress was never part of my plan by any stretch of the imagination. A nurse has never served in the Senate – and I certainly had no intentions of trying to be the first. But life doesn't always go as planned.

You see, what I've realized is that my calling doesn’t end with being a nurse; my calling is to serve those around me as best I can, however I can. I've dedicated myself to service: as a nurse, a volunteer, a children's advocate, and a loving mother. And now, as I watch partisanship and extremism threaten to divide our country, I'm called to service once again.

The same skills and values that were instilled in me as a nurse – problem solving, people-first leadership, compassion, and integrity – are exactly what Washington needs right now. 

As your next senator, I promise to always serve your interests and put your family first. I promise to never sell out to corporate lobbyists or partisanship. I promise to boldly take on the big issues that are plaguing our country, like gun violence, the opioid epidemic, or the rising costs of living. I promise to bring empathy, kindness, and honesty to Congress.

Washington has had lawyers and lobbyists running things for far too long. The system is broken, and a nurse's heart and mind are the cure it needs. If you agree with me, can you donate $5 now to power my grassroots campaign? Bringing about big change doesn't happen overnight. To send a nurse to the Senate, I'm going to need you on my team every step of the way.

Your support means so, so much to me. Thank you for believing in me.

– Trudy