To everyone who knocked, called, wrote postcards, gave, and voted: thank you.

Here’s what we built together: More than 2,000 individual donors. Over 400 volunteers. Not one dollar from a corporate PAC, their executives, or from the pro-Israel lobby. Through that support, we earned 20% of the vote in a 7-person race. That’s a big deal and the start of something big.

I ran because families in this district are one benefit cliff, one medical bill, one bad month away from losing everything. I ran because I’ve spent my career helping them navigate a safety net designed to be hard to use. That doesn’t change based on an election result.

And it’s about to get harder. The second installment of the Big Ugly Law hits food and health benefits right after the midterms. In a district where every SNAP dollar cycles through local grocers, farmers, and truck drivers, those cuts aren’t charity being cut. It’s our economy.

So here’s my only ask.

Come with me to salaambhatti.com. This campaign wasn’t the beginning of my advocacy, and losing it isn’t the end. I’ll keep writing about what’s happening, explaining complex issues, and sharing what exactly you can do to fight back. We built this together and we will continue growing together.

You can also find me at @salaambhattiva on Instagram, Threads, and Facebook.

I can’t wait to see you around the neighborhood.

Salaam