Dear Friends,

This week, we remember the lives lost and families forever changed by the terror attacks on 9/11. We honor the emergency first responders, service members and veterans who valiantly answered the call of service then and continue to do so now.  

Democrats delivered vital benefits for our nation’s heroic 9/11 first responders and 9/11 era veterans and know that we have more work to do to ensure that all of America’s veterans and first responders are cared for not only when they answer the call of service, but when they need our help in the years that follow. That is our sacred responsibility and promise.

Our hearts were broken in recent days as our nation reeled, once again, from the devastation of senseless gun violence — we do not have to live like this! We must come together against hatred and violence in all of its forms and work to address the gun violence crisis that plagues our communities. Our prayers for healing must be coupled with action and the political will to make lasting change that is rooted in our collective wellbeing and commitment to making our communities safer For The Children. 

Dear Friends,

You, our VIPs — our grassroots Volunteers in Politics, have been making hundreds of thousands of calls into vulnerable Republican districts since our kickoff to Save Our Health Care in January! You have been organizing locally and inspiring action nationally.  You have been relentlessly focused on what we can influence and change with your outside mobilization.  So when Texas Republicans made their move to disenfranchise millions of voters in Texas and attempt to rig Congressional elections, we knew we could count on California voters to fight back with a YES vote on Proposition 50 on your November ballot. 

California has always stood up to Trump — and we are not backing down now.  Trump and his minions think they can steal Democracy district by district and silence voters’ voices — but we will fight back and we will win.

As we prepared to celebrate Labor Day weekend with our families and our communities last week, Texas Republicans signed their illegal redistricting plan into law — yet another action from Republicans that put politics over the needs of the people, not only in Texas but across the country.  We have long called this for what it is — an attempt by Republicans to escape accountability for what they have done.  Republicans know that their policies are not popular and are causing tremendous harm to millions of Americans and unnecessary destruction to our economy and social safety net – health care, jobs, food assistance and more.  They know they cannot and will not keep power without changing the rules in the middle of the game and outright cheating — and they are brazen enough to do so because they think they can get away with anything.

Dear Friends,

Wishing you and yours a Happy Labor Day Weekend!  Every day — and especially on Labor Day — we honor America’s workers and the unions that built America’s middle class. The middle class has a union label on it and is the backbone of our Democracy.  Labor unions built our country’s ladders of opportunity for countless people for generations — with values of community and dignity that bind us as Americans.  We are all in this together, and we are stronger when we stand together for justice, fairness and opportunity for all.

Since the current occupant of the White House and his minions barged back into office in January, his Administration has waged an all-out, illegal assault on the rights of workers. This anti-union, anti-worker attack has stripped away collective bargaining from hundreds of thousands of our public servants, including those who care for our veterans — many of whom are veterans themselves.  Washington Republicans have shown us exactly who they are — they voted to strip health care and food aid from more than 20 million Americans and pushed policies that are making it harder to afford groceries, gas and other everyday essentials.  All while giving billionaires massive tax breaks that will add trillions to the national debt.

This past week, we celebrated the 105th anniversary of the 19th Amendment.  With gratitude for all the women who struggled, fought, marched, starved and were starved before winning the right to vote — we must never take change for granted.  Republicans have openly discussed ways to make voting harder for women, and we will not stand for that — ever.  As we face monstrous threats to our health care, freedoms and Democracy from Republican extremists — let me be clear: we are not going back!

Dear Friends,

Americans already pressured by skyrocketing costs from Trump’s tariffs are bracing for the impact of the Republicans’ Big Ugly Budget which will make low-income people poorer and sicker while making the ultra-rich even richer – it’s sinful.

Dear Friends,

Thank you for being on the frontlines of our Democracy and fighting to defend our voices and our values and to Save Our Health Care. Together, we are continuing to help California voters connect with their Republican Representatives in Congress who voted to defund Medicaid — including David Valadao in the Central Valley who broke his vital promise to his constituents with eyes wide open after authoring or signing onto numerous letters detailing the harm that would be caused by the Big Ugly Bill.