Hi there,

Today is the first day of Hanukkah, and Christmas and Kwanzaa are just around the corner. I think it’s safe to say that, no matter when you celebrate, the holiday season is upon us. And whether you celebrate these holidays or something else, or nothing at all, I hope you take these next few days as an opportunity to rest and reflect, to spend time with loved ones, to practice kindness, and, most importantly, to make room for joy.

Joy is important to me, and to this movement -- in fact, it’s one of our Rules of the Road, the ten guiding principles that govern our campaign. Part of the Pete for America mission statement reads, “Amid the great challenge we have accepted, let us be joyful.” I want to echo that sentiment now, to all of you, in light of the holidays: Amid the challenges we face, let us be joyful.

For many Americans, I know this is a particularly divisive, and in many ways dispiriting, moment. The House has impeached the president. The contest to replace Donald Trump is heating up. Many Americans are struggling not even to get ahead, but just to hold onto what they’ve got. What I hope we remember in this moment is that we cannot give in to exhaustion and cynicism.

When the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, we’ll say goodbye to the second decade of this century and ring in 2020. Remember that this 2020 election is our chance to refuse to be taken in by helplessness or cynicism; to choose to define America not by exclusion but by belonging. The trajectory of our nation is still up to us -- and that is something to be joyful about. Because the way we keep going, the way we meet those challenges with strength and conviction, is by making room for joy.

Importantly, with joy, comes hope and resilience. Going into this critical year in the life of our nation, I can’t think of qualities we’ll need to draw upon more to fuel the work ahead.

So this holiday season, however you celebrate, I hope we all have a chance to spend some quality time with family, friends, and loved ones. I hope we take this chance to take a breath, remember the values we share, and recharge for the weeks and months ahead. And I hope we all make room for joy, however and wherever we can.

Pete