If you don’t know, I am the host of The Foolish Optimist podcast where I’ve met hundreds of candidates running for office. Our pod tagline is “we’re on the hunt for the next generation of leaders” and when I tell you the two I am highlighting are just that, I mean it.
I’ve had the opportunity to go work with Ashley Bell in North Carolina and Jeromie Whalen in Massachusetts. Both are wonderful candidates and you need to check them out.
Jeromie is running against a 36 year incumbent and Jeromie, himself, is about that age. He’s running to unseat a Democrat in the primary which is September 1. He’s a teacher, he’s a community leader, and he’s up against the biggest fundraiser in the Democratic Party. He’s running against big money and needs your help. If you’re in the Northeast, you need to check him out. He’ll be a great addition to the coalition in DC fighting for so many things. Like raising taxes on billionaires, changing the healthcare system, and of course, as a teacher. Education. You can check our entire episode out here.
Ashley is challenging Pat Harrigan - a MAGA yes man, a one term incumbent who lost to Jeff Jackson in Mecklenburg County and moved to run in North Carolina’s 10th Congressional District. Ashley is a fifteen year healthcare veteran and she’s fighting for a more equitable health care system. I spent one month with Ashley Bell in February prior to the primary – and she’s the embodiment of the type of leader I want to see in Washington DC. An expert in her field, no nonsense, and laser focused on solutions. Watch our episode from before the primary here.
So I decided to join her campaign. What does that mean for me? I’m moving to Winston Salem! What does that mean for you? I’ll still be putting out episodes weekly on The Foolish Optimist, some content weekly, and I am planning to continue one Substack every week.
But we need your help. I am employed by her campaign (this is my disclosure and I will continue to disclose every time I talk about the campaign) and I will ask for money. If you’re looking for someone who will fight to change the entire healthcare system - to make it better for patients, to make it better for workers, to create a system that will last for generations of Americans, donate a few bucks to Ashley Bell. And if you’re not involved on any campaign yet, I hope you jump in. Wherever you are. Volunteer, donate, make calls, texts, every little bit helps. And it helps at every single level.
We have a wholesale assault on our democracy and the first step is to shut the faucet off to the runaway executive overreach and we can do that in November. But it takes every single person getting in the game to win.
From the campaign trail with love,
Amy McDonald