John,

I’m Trudy Busch Valentine: a nurse, mother, children’s advocate, proud fourth-generation Missourian, and, as of a few days ago, your Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Missouri. I’ve spent my life giving back and helping others, and now I’m running to do the same thing in Washington. I hope you’ll take just a moment to read about what’s at stake and why I'm in this race.

As a young girl growing up in Missouri, I watched my parents live the American Dream. They always told me, “To whom much is given, much is required.” That sense of obligation to help others is what drove me to choose a life of service.

It’s why I volunteered as a candy striper when I was only 13 years old. It’s what led me to attend nursing school, work in hospitals, and later, work for the Salvation Army. 

It’s also why I’ve decided to run for U.S. Senate; Missourians deserve a senator who will put politics aside, put people first, and work to make sure that everyone is able to live out the American Dream. Now, as we head into the general election, I need to hear from top Democratic supporters like you, John. 

So I'm asking a favor: Could you please take a few minutes to complete our campaign's first general election priorities survey? Your feedback is essential to helping me understand where to focus our efforts so that we can develop a winning strategy for November.

I've been fortunate in life. I’ve never had to fight to get the healthcare I need. I’ve never seen an eviction notice on my door. I’ve never worried about paying my electric bill.  

But too many Missourians have.

These days, the American Dream seems to come with a price tag – and that price is way too high. That’s why I’m ready to help lower the cost of basic necessities. I’m ready to expand access to affordable healthcare. I’m ready to fight for a person’s right to choose. And I’m ready to put an end to our state’s tragic opioid epidemic. 

John, we’ve known for too long that Washington is broken, with leaders dividing rather than uniting us. Missourians know that we need more compassion and less politics. To truly solve problems, we need leadership that puts politics aside and puts people first – and that’s exactly what I’m ready to do as your next U.S. senator.

But look: I believe leaders should talk less and listen more – and that’s why I’m reaching out to you as we kick off this campaign. This is our campaign’s very first general election priorities survey, and your answers today will help guide the strategy to fix a broken Washington and rebuild our great state. I’d be so grateful for your input.

While working in the hospital, I cared for children, seniors, and people from all walks of life. It’s also where I learned the importance of quality healthcare. As a nurse, I believe that every person deserves access to the very best medical care, and as a parent, I believe that every person should have access to contraception and abortion care – full stop.

Now that the Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade, we're in an uncertain and scary time. We don’t know what will happen next, but here’s what I do know: You can count on me to work for the rights of ALL Missourians.

But I can only run a winning campaign if grassroots input is at the center of our strategy. So, John, will you help start the general election strong by responding to our priorities survey? Your opinion means a lot to me.

Thanks for joining our campaign for a better Missouri, 

Trudy