Hi John,

At the end of last month, I got one of the most negatively charged replies I've received in 15 months of campaigning. (And let me tell you: as a candidate for public office, you get A LOT of nasty messages.)

The focus of my email was my support for Pro-Choice organizations and my endorsement by Pro-Choice Missouri, however it was clear that I'd triggered this person.

I'm not going to lie. I was incredibly hurt and challenged by a furious email that asked me to imagine a life in which my son was not alive.

I understand what it’s like to feel like no one is listening – it’s one of the reasons I decided to run for office– so I could make all of our voices heard. (One of my campaign mottos is literally, "Be Heard.”)

So, I responded. And you won't believe what happened next: It opened a dialogue between us, and we ended up meeting in person to talk face to face.

That was last Tuesday morning, before I headed out to Kahoka, MO, on a seven-city road trip, just 14 days away from Election Day.

We talked for over an hour. We did not agree on everything. But we found common ground where we could. While I don’t know if she’ll vote for me in November after we win the Democratic nomination, I know that I helped make a Missourian feel heard.

In my life, I ascribe to the teachings of Daryl Davis, who said, "If two enemies are talking, they're not fighting."

We're not all enemies, but we do need to stop fighting.

I didn't set out to win a primary. I set out to win a Senate seat and fix our broken society. I have a 15-month head-start on winning the general election because I do the work of listening to and helping people every single day.

If we're going to be a peaceful and productive society, we need to talk with each other and listen. We cannot allow a lack of communication to lead us further into division and hate.

Today, I ask you to talk to the people in your life and tell them why you support my campaign for U.S. Senate. Help them make a plan to vote and help us prove that civility, empathy, listening, and respect, will save our Democracy. Not who raises the most money.

This race is going to come down to the wire. That's why today, I'm asking that you forward this email to all of your friends and family who are ready to make their voices heard, encouraging them to vote for me on August 2nd.

We need all hands on deck.

Let's GOOOO!!!!!

Spencer