Hi John,
If you live in the new Congressional District-7, like I do, you’re probably feeling heartbroken about the results. I had the pleasure and, indeed, honor of getting to know Congressman Tom Malinowski over the past six months.
The first time I met Tom was at a house party in Mendham, and he impressed me as living up to the hype. He was smart, funny, caring and deeply knowledgeable about issues. And, he was absolutely determined to answer every single question, no matter the pained looks from his staff who wanted him to wrap up and move onto the next engagement.
That impression never wavered. No matter the situation, Tom was the same, as he reached out to voters. He was always full of energy and super smart. At another event, a voter had missed meeting him and wanted to see if Tom was still around. A quick call later, and Tom made a beeline back to greet this one family. It reflected his deep commitment to constituents.
So, we’re devastated at what happened, especially given the opponent. The first time I met the other Tom was at the Brookside July 4th Parade. I expected him to march with the Republican contingent and shake hands. Instead, he meandered down the street, looking at his cell phone and disappeared. That impression never changed either.
Tom Malinowski has served as an exemplary Congressman, and fought for our Democratic values. Yes, the results hurt.
I want to thank all the volunteers who worked incredibly hard to elect our Tom. And, ask you not to drop out or turn away in frustration. We need your passion! Please take a breath and recharge, because we need to regroup and take back the district. We need leadership in CD-7 and will do everything possible to get it back.
