Friends and Constituents:
What a week! Across the country, in big races and small, the American people have issued a stunning rebuke to Donald Trump’s corrupt and fascist government. Democrats have a chance to make transformational changes that can restructure our society towards fairness, justice, better living conditions, and an economy and government that work for working people.
But here in supermajority-Democrat Indianapolis, we know better than to simply sit back and hope for the best now that Democrats have more power. A better world is possible, but we need to fight for it together.
Next year, every single Council seat in the city is up for election, alongside the Mayor. I am more committed than ever to fighting for democracy, transparency, and accountability in government and to putting the people in the driver’s seat.
One other candidate running for Council in District 13 has already announced, and more might be coming. I am glad that my constituents will have choices - that’s what democracy is all about.
But I want to keep serving as your representative.
It has been the honor of my lifetime to fight for the people as my full-time vocation since 2024. I absolutely want to keep standing up for my constituents, keep winning, and keep insisting that a better world is possible here in Indianapolis.
We can win re-election and build a coalition for better government, but we will only get there together. That means I need hard-hitting endorsements from the people I respect most: all of you.
Watch the video, then keep reading: there’s homework ahead.
In 2023, a multiracial team of 320 different working-class people helped me raise $26,000 in order to win the Council race.
I didn’t take a dime from any organization or PAC.
I know that Indianapolis’s best days are ahead, and our movement continues growing. I know that we can rally 320 unique individuals again to endorse our shared movement and chip in what they can to help, between now and December 31st.
I’m going to be reaching out to each of you personally with a video message asking for your support. Here’s a sneak peek of what that ask will look like:
Chip in $5. If you are able to give more, please do - but we have proven that we can beat the establishment with a little bit from a lot of people.
Record a short video message to me telling me why you want me to run for office. This can be just a few seconds long. Bonus points if you include the phrase “I’m doing my part”. I want to create a tongue-in-cheek “Starship Troopers” themed video editing together all of the regular people backing our campaign and showing the movement we continue to build.
Take a turn as the organizer I know you can be. Ask three people you know to chip in $5 and record their own videos.
Starting tomorrow, I’ll be reaching out to send you a personal video; then I’ll give you a call to hear your response.
We don’t all need to be full-time paid leaders in order to be organizers. Organizing means taking a single step forward and then asking the people closest to you to join you.
Step up, chip in, and join your friends and neighbors. Once we hit our 320 unique donors between today and December 31st, we'll get together for a formal campaign kick-off party and talk about how we can not only win re-election but provide backup for other insurgent candidates across the city. And there, we'll talk about whether we want to endorse any Mayoral candidates - such as my fantastic former State Senator.
Indianapolis is ready for a change. We can do better and we will - together. Join me!
In love and solidarity,
Jesse