I just wrapped up a few days in New Hampshire. This was my first time campaigning on my own during the Presidential race. I went on a few solo trips during the senate race, and while my pitch wasn’t always perfect and my responses unrefined, people always appreciated that I showed up. This time though, the stakes felt higher, the scrutiny more intense. Perhaps because I knew people would inevitably be recording so many of my interactions, which will never feel normal.
My fears were quickly put to rest with our first event in Concord. Joined by a small group of gun violence prevention activists, including those with Moms Demand Action and Kent Street Coalition, we had a fantastic conversation about the challenges of advocating for common sense gun laws in states like New Hampshire or Texas, which have such long histories of proud gun ownership. …
The kids go back to school this Monday. I am not sure what happened to summer. It went by so fast, but some highlights were: traveling to Iowa and Michigan as a family, hearing the excitement in Ulysses’ voice when he talked about the new found freedom of roaming the nearby neighborhood with his friends, celebrating Molly’s birthday holding snakes, tarantulas, and other critters, and watching Henry work his tail off to keep up with Ulysses on the basketball court.
As summer started to close, our kids went to sleep away camp for two weeks. It was wonderful being with Beto during that time and not have to worry about who was babysitting when or coordinating rides. …
I just returned home from another great weekend on the road. I flew into Iowa on Thursday night, missing the Easterseals fundraiser I was hoping to attend because of flight delays. But the rest of my first trip to the state did not disappoint. We toured Matt and Pat’s family farm, learning about the interplay of markets and federal policy that would allow small farmers to be profitable and ensure the long term viability of the water and land. I was able to meet their herd of horses and mules, which I loved. It reminded me of the ranch I grew up on. …
Memories Beto and I will share to remind our kids the campaign was worth it
On election night, hours after we learned we had lost our race for Senate in Texas, I tucked my 12-year-old son, Ulysses, into bed. He asked me a tough question: Had the past two years, which he described as the hardest of his life, all been for nothing?
In 2016, as Beto and I watched Donald Trump win the election, it was abundantly clear that we could not sit on the sidelines and accept the trajectory of our country, allowing fear, incivility, and lies to prevail. We wanted to be a part of something bold, aspirational, and inclusive. With only the guidance of close friends and family, we seized the moment, and Beto jumped into the race for the U.S. …
