The Fight Continues
Politics is deeply personal. I got into this race because of the thousands of stories I carry with me everyday. Stories from my patients, stories from my neighbors, stories from people like you. I believe in people, and I believe everyone deserves the resources and opportunity to write their own story.
I am so proud of the campaign we have run, the infrastructure we’ve built for progressive politics in the 3rd congressional district, and the battle we have fought for decency, compassion, hope, and opportunity.
We are not satisfied with these results. The reality is — this loss hurts. But I am proud of my team. Not just for the work we did, but the way we did it. I could not have taken on this enormous task without my team, and their friendship means the world to me.
To my husband Kirk, thank you for always having my back and for picking up my slack for the past year. I know it hasn’t been easy. I promise I will do better with laundry, dishes, and date nights going forward.
Thank you to my children — for supporting me, for cheering me on — even when you feared I would win, but knew it was the right thing to do and a sacrifice worth making. I love you, and your future is worth fighting for. You are why I get up in the morning, why I stay up late at night, and you deserve the America I know we can be.
To the people who donated to my campaign- thank you isn’t gratitude enough. You believed in me, even though I’m a Democrat in Arkansas, and you believed in the mission of a better Arkansas for everyone.
To the people who voted for me, thank you for making your voice heard. Your voice matters, and your vote matters. It’s our job to inspire others to join us in voting, so that we can all be heard.
To Congressman Womack- thank you for inspiring me to run for office. The majority of the people in the 3rd congressional district have spoken in your favor, but I ask that you also remember that you work for us — those who voted against you — as well. To whom much is given, much is expected. We expect more from you, and I promise we will continue to relentlessly hold you accountable and demand better.
We believe in opportunities for everyone, that all work has dignity, that healthcare is a right. That work doesn’t stop tonight. These past few years were full of wake up calls — for mothers, broken hearted seeing children separated from their families and put in cages, and hearing George Floyd cry out for his own mother as he was senselessly murdered in a street — we will not forgot and we will continue to fight for children, for families, and for a more just society. This work was never going to be over on Election night — and we have to keep fighting. The righteous anger we feel must be channeled into change.
We should take some time to rest, reflect, and grieve the loss of what was not. But as I recall telling my oldest daughter, Kaiya, when she learned to ride a bike and fell, her knee skinned and covered with dust, in our family, we get back on the bike. We brush ourselves off, and we try again, even when we’re scared of getting hurt, because that is the only way forward.
With redistricting upon us this next election will be an even bigger battle and another opportunity to put our hope in action. This is important work and it must continue. Our small and mighty team called more than 30,000 voters, sent over 50,000 texts, and raised over $350,000 — a historic number in this district. I’m proud of you, and all we have accomplished.
I’m sorry we didn’t win this election, but I feel pride and gratitude for this amazing movement we built together. You represent the best of Arkansas. This has been one of the greatest honors of my life. Our campaign was never about me; it’s always been about you.
We don’t like these results, but we must accept them and look toward the future. The fight isn’t over. Our fight for Democracy, for justice, for truth, for healthcare, for educational and economic opportunities — that fight can never end until the world is an equitable and safe place for everyone. We must never be complacent again. Let us work steadfastly towards a brighter tomorrow.
I will close with one of my favorite passages from Citizenship in a Republic a speech given by Theodore Roosevelt, I’m going to take the liberty to paraphrase a bit:
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong woman stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the woman who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends herself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if she fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that her place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
Arkansas, we have dared greatly. Thank you.
