Having returned home shortly before midnight and after an uplifting and incredible evening of the Democrat Tsunami that swept the Senate and House, Governorships and many legislative offices…I just want to say THANK YOU ALL!
A short paragraph exists for those groups I owe this moment to – pls.scan down to see your acknowledgement:
In ensuring I leave no individuals out, I will not cite individuals by name who made a special effort to join me in helping make this win possible. You know who you are and some have already sent me congratulations. Now, my turn to return your compliments.
Let me start with our local candidate, Cait Conley, who, from the time of her first appearance on my Zoom class as a newly declared candidate in the Spring of 2025, became the favorite of much of my class, myself among all others. What she lacked as a first time politician, she more than made up for with her passion, her personal warmth, her sincerity, incredible resume of service and her outstanding character.
She kept her word throughout a difficult primary in never attacking or slurring any fellow primary candidate, even as she was often the object of such attacks during forums. She held steady to her pledge and earned the respect of all who rewarded her with a landslide vote to represent the Party in the midterms.
For myself and those that exceeded our best past efforts to deliver that message to prospective voters in CD17, it was our collective honor to join in ensuring her election.
For all of the above, Cait, and your tireless campaigning for all your constituents, our Congratulations.
And let me not neglect appreciation to your Campaign staffers, including those leading the charge as well as the bright and enthusiastic young interns and volunteers I worked with in canvassing door to door, providing hope for the generation to come with their commitment to decency, compassion and honesty in government.
Appreciation to the local, county and state Democrats who joined with endorsements and support after the Primary, and particularly to those who braved criticism to step up earlier, braving the threats from the incumbent, and enthusiastically back a candidate they felt could best represent our values and actually win!
To continue, the small group of fellow activists who never stopped sending out LTEs, phone calling, writing postcards, opening their homes to Meet N Greets, canvassing door to door and donations,…and keeping each other motivated when the lies and flood of dark money and occasional missteps seemed to cast a dark cloud over our chances of prevailing… thank you!
Thanks to my local on-line and printed news organizations and the many others across CD17 who had the courtesy to print my own LTEs and those written by so many others supporting Cait Conley’ candidacy. You made a difference!
And to the tenants of Ft. Hill and Chapel Hill who bore the brunt of my emails, door knocking and visits while they were trying to enjoy a Sunday family dinner, your tolerance and welcome were uplifting and kept me going. Your votes won us an election!
Special thanks to those registered Republicans and Independents who put Country before Party.. you are so appreciated.
To those in class and to my dearest and closest friends who individually did most or all of the above, contributed to my matching fund for Cait, donated across the country to worthy candidates and spent their evenings deleting the hundreds of Act Blue politicians you never heard of, pleading for just a few dollars more to their campaign….you know “a good deed is seldom rewarded” and so shared with me a moment of regret,
Thank you!
And finally, to the leadership of CCoHope Indivisible, who first encouraged me to join against Trump and his supporters
in what seemed a clear and present danger to our Country … my undying gratitude to be a part of what you represent.. First, for the freedom you give all your members in resisting in those ways most comfortable and rewarding and secondly, in marshaling your resistance by closing ranks to support electable and worthy candidates that support our Democracy, such as Cait.
Thank you one and all in standing up when it counted. Jay Forbes, Peekskill