Leadership Means Showing Up

Jun 2

Written By Mitch

I believe leadership means showing up.

Not just during election season. Not just for a photo opportunity. Not just when it’s convenient.

If I earn the Democratic nomination on June 16, I’m going to do something a little different. I’m planning to travel through every county in Oklahoma’s Fourth Congressional District by bicycle.

Why? I don’t believe in campaigning from a distance.

I want to meet people where they are. I want to hear what they’re worried about, what they’re hopeful for, and what they need from the people who represent them. I want to listen more than I talk. Most importantly, I want to continue building a campaign that is focused on people, not politics as usual.

As a public defender, I spend my days fighting for people who need someone in their corner. As a husband and father of five, I know firsthand the challenges families are facing right now. My family feels the impact of rising health care costs, higher gas prices, and mortgage payments just like so many families across Oklahoma.

I know what it’s like to look at the monthly budget and wonder how far a paycheck can stretch. I know what it’s like to worry about the future you’re building for your children. I live these truths every day. These experiences shape how I see the world and why I decided to run for Congress.

Too often, politics feels disconnected from the lives of everyday people. This is especially true of federal campaigns. I truly believe that all politics are local, and I think we need to get back to something simpler.

Years ago, candidates traveled from town to town, shaking hands, listening to voters, and earning support face-to-face. They didn’t just talk about communities; they spent time in them. I believe we need more of that spirit in politics today.

This bicycle tour is my version of a modern-day whistle-stop campaign.

It also isn’t my first long ride.

Back in 2015, I rode my bicycle from Flagstaff, Arizona, to Los Angeles and back again. It challenged me physically and mentally. There were moments when quitting would have been easier. But that experience taught me something important: the best things in life require grit, courage, and commitment.

This campaign has reminded me of that lesson.

The road ahead won’t always be easy. There will be challenges. There will be long days. But I know what it means to commit to the journey and keep moving forward. That’s the same determination I will bring to Congress for the people of Oklahoma.

If I earn your support on June 16, I’ll take this campaign county by county and mile by mile. About 800 miles! Not because it’s easy, but because the people of Oklahoma deserve a representative who shows up, listens, learns, and works for them.