The People Must Have the Final Say

With less than a month until Election Day, it sure feels like every news cycle is giving everyone another reason to worry.

Another completely reckless statement. Another challenge to election norms. Another reminder of how much our livelihoods depend on the people we put in positions of power.

The concern is real. We’ve all seen what happens when leaders treat accountability as completely optional and the will of the voters as something they can question and lie about until they get the answer they want.

But we still have a say in what happens next.

Voting is already underway here in Minnesota. We’ve got an opportunity to elect people who take their responsibilities seriously, who understand how democracy should work, and ones who remember who exactly sent them to Washington.

That’s what this campaign is working toward.

And these final weeks matter.

We Deserve Responsible Leadership

At a rally in Nebraska this week, President Trump spoke about Iran potentially taking out Los Angeles and San Diego. The White House later said he was describing the danger his actions were intended to prevent, rather than calling for attacks on American cities.

Even with that weak explanation, Americans shouldn’t have to second-guess what the President says. We deserve clarity and genuine care..

Millions of people live throughout southern California. They deserve to hear a president speak about protecting them with the seriousness that the situation demands.

We should be able to expect that from anyone entrusted with public office.

We should also expect transparency.

The administration has declined to invite the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe to observe this year’s federal elections. The OSCE says this is the first U.S. federal election since its observation work began in 2002 for which it has not received an invitation.

Independent observation provides another source of information about our electoral process. Welcoming that additional level of scrutiny helps show that there is a strong commitment to a free and fair election process.

Closing that door raises big questions. And Congress needs to be asking them before it’s too late.

We Remember January 6

On January 6, 2021, a violent attack on the Capitol interrupted the certification of the presidential election. Members of Congress and the Vice President were threatened, and our whole democratic process itself came under attack.

That history gives us every reason to take threats to democracy very seriously.

We can no longer assume that every person seeking power will respect the limits of that power. We’ve seen this game over and over again with Trump. We can no longer assume that respect for election results will take care of itself.

We have to demand it, insist on it, and make it a large part of how we’re judging the people asking for our votes.

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Every eligible voter must be able to participate. Votes should be counted accurately. Election workers should be able to do their jobs safely. Candidates should respect results, including when they lose. It’s insane we even have to remind ourselves of this.

Those principles should hold regardless of which party ends up coming up short. Or at least they used to.

As this election approaches, we must be vigilant, which means checking information before sharing it, relying on official election sources, and giving election officials the time they need to count accurately.

It also means getting out and participating.

If you’re concerned about our democracy, there’s no better reason to use your voice and take action.

Who is Washington Working For?

The questioning and lies about our democracy reach into our everyday lives.

It matters when a family is trying to afford health care. When a worker needs a wage that is actually livable. When parents have to worry about the future of their local school. When a small business owner wonders whether anyone in Washington understands what it takes to keep the doors open and the lights on.

We deserve to know our concerns are getting through.

Right now, the current administration is giving people reason to believe that the biggest checkbooks get the most attention. Corporate interests and billionaire donors should never have a stronger claim on our representatives than our own.

Holding public office comes with protecting the public’s interest.

Tom Emmer is the House Majority Whip, a member of the leadership team helping guide the Republican majority. That position carries influence and responsibility. Does anyone think he’s actually protecting our interests? The guy who won’t stop helping the Crypto industry?

Laughable.

Voters have every right to ask how serving the wealthiest someone serves them as well. .

Is Congress providing meaningful oversight? Is it demanding accountability from the executive branch? Is it making life better for the people who need the government to work?

Again, laughable.

The Sixth District deserves representation who welcomes those questions and understands that answering them is part of the job.

Why Doug’s Experience Matters

Doug has spent nearly forty years working on election policy and administration. During his time at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School, he founded an online certificate program in election administration. His work at The Pew Charitable Trusts included bold efforts to improve military and overseas voting and help those people access official voting information.

That experience matters so much in a moment like the one we’re in now.

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Protecting democracy takes knowledge, patience, and a willingness to do the work. It takes a person who understands what they are responsible for and who cares whether the institutions meant to serve the public actually do.

Doug brings that perspective, by leaps and bounds, to this race.

He understands that trust must be earned through competence, openness, and accountability. He understands that public service requires listening. That the people asking difficult questions deserve thoughtful answers.

Those are qualities we are in dire need of in Congress.

We need someone who takes the Constitution seriously, exercises independent judgment, and understands that their responsibility extends to everyone they represent.

That is the kind of leadership we are working to send to Washington.

Showing Up Is Part of the Job. Someone Tell Tom Emmer.

Doug got some attention in the Star Tribune this week for doing something that should be pretty normal for anyone running for Congress: showing up and answering questions.

Columnist Rochelle Olson watched Doug spend 90 minutes taking questions from about 160 people in St. Michael. He answered every question and stuck around afterward to keep talking.

When someone asked whether he would hold quarterly in-person town halls once elected, his answer was simple:

“It’s part of the job.”

Apparently, Tom Emmer needs that reminder.

Olson contrasted Doug’s approach with Emmer’s tightly controlled appearances. At the Emmer town hall she attended in 2023, he stuck to his script, brushed off some questions, and didn’t stay long. Big surprise.

We’re hiring someone to represent us. Answering our questions is a pretty basic part of the deal.

Doug understands that. He also talked about banning stock trading by members of Congress, tightening ethics rules, and making Congress stand up to the president.

These are real steps toward a government people can trust.

Emmer has had years to show us what kind of representative he is. It’s clear who Tom Emmer is focused on, himself. We’re ready for someone who makes time for the people back home.

Doug is already showing us what that looks like.

Check out the article here.

Make Your Voting Plan

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, and Minnesotans can already vote by absentee ballot, by mail or in person.

The deadline to register in advance is Tuesday, October 13. If you miss the deadline, Minnesota also allows registration at your polling place on Election Day. (sos.mn.gov)

Take a few minutes this week to make your plan.

Check your registration. Decide when and where you will vote. If you are voting by mail, follow the official instructions and track your ballot.

Find official voting information at mnvotes.gov.

Then go out and help someone else do the same! Share the official information with a friend. Ask someone in your family whether they have a plan. Help someone find answers to their voting questions.

These are simple things, and they matter more than you’d think!

Help Finish the Work

These final weeks are also an opportunity to turn your concern into action. There are so many ways to get involved with our campaign!

Sign up to knock doors. Join a phone banking shift. Share why you support Doug with someone who’s still getting to know him

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Come Out to a Town Hall!

Our next Town Hall will be in Blaine at the Mary Ann Young Center. No political knowledge is required, come out and join your neighbors with the shared interest in building a stronger community together.

You don’t need to have every one of Doug’s policy positions memorized to tell someone why this election matters to you.

You can simply start with what you expect from a representative: honesty, accessibility, sound judgment, and a commitment to the people they serve.

Find ways to get involved:

Volunteer with Team Chapin
Explore campaign events
Learn more about Doug

There’s a lot we can’t control about the next set of headlines.

But we can decide how we respond. We can stay informed, support one another, and show up. We can demand a government that takes our concerns seriously and respects our right to choose leaders.

The people must have the final say. Let’s make sure our voices are heard loud and clear.

26 days until Election day. Ready for better. Ready to vote.

— Team Chapin

#FlipThe6th #LFG #ReadyForBetter

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