Friends, neighbors, and fellow Washingtonians,

I moved to Washington, DC in 1987 and built my life here. I built my career here. And like so many of you, I learned early that loving this city also means defending it.

I’m running for Congress because Washington deserves a Delegate who knows how to fight effectively, not symbolically. Someone who understands neighborhoods and understands Congress. Someone who has governed before and knows how to turn pressure into results.

I’m a former city councilmember from Chicago’s 7th Ward, a community with the same challenges and the same strength you see east of the river here in DC. I worked on public safety, economic opportunity, and neighborhood investment, not as talking points, but as daily responsibilities.

But my experience didn’t stop at the local level.

I served at the U.S. Department of State, where I saw firsthand how American policy decisions shape lives, communities, and global relationships. I later served as Vice President of Congressional & External Affairs at the Export-Import Bank of the United States during the Clinton Administration, where my job was to work directly with members of Congress, build coalitions, and move policy through a divided legislative environment.

In those roles, I learned something essential: power in Washington is not theatrical. It is procedural. It is relational. It is persistent. And if you understand how it works, you can make it work.

That matters for DC.

Because the Delegate’s job is not about casting votes on the House floor. It is about leverage. It is about relationships. It is about defending our home rule, protecting our budget, and making sure this city is treated with the dignity it deserves.

Right now, DC faces unprecedented threats to our autonomy and our ability to govern ourselves. This is not the moment for learning on the job. This is the moment for experience, stamina, and credibility.

This campaign is about results over résumés. It’s about being tough enough to stand up to Congress, and grounded enough to stand with every ward in this city.

With ranked-choice voting, this campaign will be different. I’m asking you to rank me first if you believe in this vision. But even if you don’t, I ask you to consider ranking me second, because this race is about who can best protect DC, not about tearing each other down.

I’ve served at the local level. I’ve worked at the federal level. I understand how Congress operates. And I’m ready to bring that experience to bear for the city I’ve called home for nearly four decades.

I ask for your support, your voice, and your partnership.

Let’s defend DC, together.