Friends - I’m hoping you’ll make a donation to my re-election campaign of whatever amount feels meaningful to you, whether that’s $5 or $50. Here’s why:

The 118th Congress is historic - more millennials (and Gen Z!) members are serving than ever before with millennials making up about 10% of all members and women making up 28%.

That’s exciting - it’s a big deal, and it represents progress in representation. But let’s get real for a second.

More than half of all Americans are now millennials or younger, and more than half of all Americans identify as women. (And women also vote at consistently higher turnout rates than men!)

So when we talk about the numbers of representation, we need to recognize that by and large, Congress remains a very male, and not-so-very-young legislative body (not to mention very white and very cisgender!).

And that matters - because the lived experiences we bring with us to the halls of the Capitol inform every vote we take and every piece of legislation we write.

I once heard a male politician (a Democrat, by the way) say that we need to stop talking about wedge issues that divide people, and instead focus on things that affect people’s everyday lives. He said we need to stop talking about issues like abortion, and instead focus on things like infrastructure and health care - as if reproductive care isn’t the main health care so many of us regularly use and need!

I’m going to keep using my time in Congress to prioritize legislation that impacts all Americans - from addressing the opioid epidemic, expanding access to mental health care, reducing gun violence, and yes, ensuring everyone’s right to make safe and legal reproductive health care choices.

But the reality of being in the House is that if I want to stay here, my re-election campaign needs to get going, like, yesterday.

I’m already working with my team to map out all our plans for making sure I can keep representing Californians and help support my fellow millennials who will be on the ballot as well. And of course, those plans require resources - so today I’m asking for your grassroots support.

It would mean the world to me if you’d consider chipping in as we get going on this re-election work. With your help, we can keep improving representation in Congress and keep fighting for legislation that helps ALL people, not just a few.

One more thing: These fundraising emails are going to hit your inbox every so often, because raising resources is a sometimes uncomfortable but necessary part of holding elected office. I know that not everyone can give to every email, and I totally understand. Whether or not donating works for you, I hope you’ll keep reading what I have to say, because I really value this relationship.

Thank you so much.
-Sara

Congresswoman Sara Jacobs
California’s 51st District