Campaign Reflections
In case running for office wasn’t already hard enough, we are running this campaign during unprecedented times. While our initial plan was to talk to voters by knocking on doors and to fundraise by hosting house parties, our entire strategy has had to switch over to the digital platform. It has been interesting to say the least!
On a positive note, people are at home and answering their phone. On our phone calls with voters, we have already met people living in District 17 from all walks of life, and they are generally excited about my candidacy! However, when speaking with folks it also becomes apparent just how hard things are for people right now. I spoke with a man who had recently lost his home and was living out of his car, parked in the library parking lot. He depended on the library’s computers and internet to submit job and housing applications. I wonder what he is doing now that the library is closed to the public. I talked to an 88-year-old woman who was stuck in her home and needed groceries. She had gone to the store to get food but was scared to go again because people weren’t respecting social distancing or wearing masks and gloves. I spoke to a teacher who was struggling to get her kids to engage online, and a nurse who had just finished her shift at the hospital.
Each of these folks recognized the issues that were still important to them; basic human rights, education, housing, health care, a strong economy - but they also saw that the potential solutions would need to inevitably change in line with our world’s current crisis.
The sad and ironic thing about COVID is that it’s revealed issues that already existed in our society: two out of five Americans are living paycheck-to-paycheck and can’t build up savings so that they can cover an unanticipated $400 expense. One out of five Americans are literally living month-to-month and can barely cover rent and food costs. Cost of rents and property taxes continue to rise while wages stay the same year-to-year. Thousands lack access to health care and avoid the doctor due to cost. Our teachers already feel strapped with resources and feel powerless to address the needs of some of their most vulnerable kids.
These were issues before COVID, and they will continue to be revealed in the coming months. It is important that now, more than ever, we elect someone who gets it. The legislature is going to need to shift its priorities in 2021 to ensure our society’s longstanding, intractable problems don’t get even worse.
Don’t forget to request your absentee ballot at https://idahovotes.gov/absentee-request.
