A Letter from Tarik

To my neighbors in the Fifth District,

I never imagined myself entering politics or running for office, but here I am, almost a week away from an election that could transform my life and everything I love.

I've been campaigning for more than a year, and from day one, I knew that a lot of people wouldn't take my campaign seriously, that I would be marginalized, and that I wouldn't win endorsements from organizations or politicians. While some of these obstacles came as painful and disappointing, these outcomes weren't my priority and were expected.

My priority from day one was and remains you. For that reason, I worked tirelessly on this campaign, standing for hours collecting signatures, knocking on doors, driving across all the towns and cities in the district. I even went around to communities that candidates usually skip, just to hear their story and bring their voices forward.

With this heart-to-heart strategy, my campaign, despite its limited resources, was able to exceed expectations and reach the finish line.

While I was faced with a lot of harassment and Islamophobic attacks, I've always tried to listen, even to those who attacked me, and tried to find common ground, because I've always viewed myself as a bridge between the divided groups in our district: the old and the new, the progressive and the moderate, the left and the right, and every minority community in between.

Having lived through a civil war, in a country that tore itself apart over division, I detest anything that causes division among the American people. I reject labels and the hateful rhetoric that has alienated groups and brought us to this point. I put the people of this country first, and I lead with love, which means listening to everyone and representing everyone.

While we might not agree on everything, I am appealing to you to vote for me, a true representative who genuinely cares for you and who will work to turn this house divided against itself into a united house that can stand for a nation each one of us will be proud to call our own.

Election Day is September 1st, and early voting has already started. Find your polling location here. 

Let's make the impossible possible and win this election.

With love,
Tarik