[1]Ruben Gallego for Arizona

Two years ago, emboldened by President Trump and his enablers, our democracy was pushed to the limit by the treasonous actions of violent insurrectionists.

A lot of people have asked me what that day was like for me as a combat veteran, so I wanted to take a moment to share some reflections with you.

First, as a Marine Corps veteran, I never imagined having to use my training to protect myself and my colleagues on the House floor.

I never imagined teaching my House colleagues how to put on a gas mask and regulate their breathing.

I never imagined I’d be helping frightened colleagues move to safety as insurrectionists started streaming into the Capitol.

I never imagined I’d stay behind after the Capitol security came in to do one more sweep for colleagues who might have frozen and gone to cocoon somewhere hard to find.

I never imagined I would ever have to teach my staff how to knock on the door of our office a certain way to signal it was them and not some attacker — something we did in the Marine Corps when surrounded by insurgents and you didn’t know who was good and who was bad.

And I never imagined I’d have to text members of the House and urge them not to get on buses ready to evacuate us from the Capitol because if we left we’d lose the building to the coup.

The truth is, I was ready to fight that day. Physically. To protect our democracy. I remember wanting my weapon, but the only thing I could find around me was a pen and that was going to have to be it. And I remember wishing my Marines were with me.

People ask me if I think that will be the last time anything like that ever happens.

And the truth is, that type of brazen action probably won’t happen the same way. But the attack on our democracy will continue through legal decisions. Through the Supreme Court. Through the lower courts. Through the State Houses that make decisions that subvert our democracy.

Reflecting again on January 6, I am proud of how Democrats reacted and returned to the floor to certify the presidential election.

I am proud that most Democrats did what they could to further protect and strengthen our democracy after January 6.

But that fight will have to continue.

And as someone who joined the United States Marine Corps to defend this country and protect our democracy, you can count on me to be on the front lines of that battle.

Thanks for reading,

Ruben Gallego

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Can you please make a contribution to Ruben Gallego today? He is considering running for U.S. Senate in Arizona but can only do it if the grassroots support is there. So please chip in $5, $10 or whatever you can today. It all adds up and any donations can be used on day one if he runs.

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