"What's wrong? Where does it hurt most?"

Nurses have asked patients these questions countless times, John. As a pediatric nurse, it was my job to listen to the children who came to our hospital and to figure out what we call their "chief complaint," or the reason why they ended up in my exam room that day.

Today, I'm reaching out to you with a similar question. From hateful partisanship to families struggling to put food on the table, America is hurting. 

And just like I helped children heal from broken bones and deep cuts, I'm running for Senate to heal a broken Washington and bridge the deep divides pulling our neighbors and communities apart.

Far too many lawyers in Washington care more about lecturing than listening. They dive into legislating without taking time to hear from the people they're supposed to serve. But as I learned from my long shifts as a nurse and the thousands of patients who I treated, you can't solve a problem or heal a wound without listening to the person who's in pain.

So that's why I'm emailing you today. I know that your family is hurting in some way. And whether it's over the rollback of abortion rights, the opioid epidemic that's ripping our communities apart, or an eviction notice on your door, I want to hear from you. So please, will you take just a moment to tell me a little about the problems facing your family, and what you think leaders in Washington need to focus on to heal our country? Hearing from you will really mean so much to me.

I'm so grateful to have you on my team, and I look forward to reading through your responses.

Warmly,

Trudy