We hit a major milestone last week.

The split-screen moment that changed everything

So first things first, I have to apologize for something: I forgot to post this major milestone last week.

In the midst of a hectic campaign with sold-out events, sharing the stage with Pete Buttigieg, and knocking hundreds of doors day-to-day, it made me think about how far this campaign has come in just one year.

That’s right: one year ago, I launched this campaign for Congress.

My plan was never to run for office, but the continued costs, chaos, and corruption coming out of Washington became too much to ignore. I still remember the split-screen moment that kickstarted this campaign: the government showdown that convinced me we were getting screwed over by our leaders.

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While our representatives made the rounds on national television urging people to cut back, eat cereal for dinner, and work two jobs, they gave the largest tax cuts to the top 1%, allowing Jeff Bezos to host his elaborate wedding out in Venice, Italy.

My son was working his butt off pulling night shifts and was barely able to make ends meet. And in that moment, I wondered:

“How come he gets the short end of the stick when he’s doing everything right?”

I heard it from everyone across this district. Parents would tell me their kids couldn’t afford to live in the towns they grew up in. None of them were being lazy — their representatives just didn’t care about them. And no representative has been more guilty of pushing aside their constituents than Ann Wagner.

While the rich partied, workers were begging for crumbs.

A lot has changed since then

We launched this people-powered movement because I wasn’t done yet serving my community. And since that day, we’ve seen something unprecedented happen here in Missouri.

We’ve watched the lines of this district change and change back. We’ve traveled thousands of miles, held town halls across the district, knocked doors, marched in parades, stood on picket lines, and met people from St. Louis to Sullivan and everywhere in between.

But through all of it, our message hasn’t wavered: costs, corruption, and chaos. For a year, we’ve listened to Missourians who are tired of paying more while getting less. Tired of politicians looking out only for themselves and their richest friends. Tired of the constant chaos coming out of Washington.

And for the first time in years, folks are becoming hopeful again. Across every town hall we’ve hosted, every parade and event we’ve attended, one thing is palpable: you can feel the energy and enthusiasm here.

Somewhere along the way, this campaign became a whole lot bigger than the people who started it

We’ve turned this once long-shot race into a people-powered movement. We’re now a coalition of thousands of volunteers, donors, union members, veterans, neighbors, friends, and people who believe it’s time for something different.

And thanks to everyone who has shown up, knocked on doors, or chipped in a few bucks, we’re now only one point behind Congresswoman Ann Wagner with just a few weeks to spare. That’s so close to taking back Missouri!

But I need your help now more than ever. It took us a year to build this kind of momentum here in Missouri’s 2nd District, but we only have another 29 days to make our case to voters. Every day is going to be a mission-critical moment, so can you join me in this final stretch of the movement you helped build?

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Like I’ve said from day one: we’re not done yet.

— Fred Wellman

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