When I started this race, I thought I knew what hard work looked like. I've served in the Army. I've stood next to clients in courtrooms as a public defender. But nothing prepared me for this last year and a half on the road across Oklahoma's Fourth District. I am certain that sentiment is felt by the incredible volunteers and advocates who carried this campaign when I couldn't carry it alone.
Whatever the results, none of it would have been possible without them.
Thank you
Rocio. You said yes to this before I fully understood what I was asking. You gave up evenings, weekends, and a lot of “us” time at home, and at times must have felt like a solo parent so that I could be on the road. You kept me steady on the hard days and honest on the good ones. I couldn't have done this without you, and I wouldn't have wanted to. Thank you.
Lorretta. You knocked roughly 8,000 doors because you believe in this mission. You set a goal, and you were unstoppable. Then you had an accident while knocking, and your first question was when you could get back out there. That is the kind of heart this campaign ran on. Thank you.
Betty. Every spare second, you spent on someone's front porch. You didn't just knock doors; you started conversations and made people feel heard. And you coordinated volunteers on top of everything else. Thank you.
Janice. You can run an office and a handwritten postcard campaign like no one I have ever seen. Neighbors across this district heard from us in real ink because of you and the many volunteers you coordinated to help write and donate stamps. Thank you.
Phylis. Office, events, phone banks: you were at all of them, and you brought cheer into every room you walked into. I've never seen anyone light up at a stack of handwritten postcards the way you do. Thank you.
Lennon. You made hundreds of videos for this campaign. Some were funny, some were educational, and some were serious. We had a lot of fun making them. Because of you, I have a record of this whole journey, and I'll never forget it. Thank you.
Randy. You kept us on track, on time, and FEC-compliant. Behind every event and every dollar was a mountain of reports, details to track, and a man with a spreadsheet. You handled all of it. You're a big part of why a grassroots campaign could run like a professional one.
NaRissa. You attend our events, and you host them. You find the places to hold them, and you step up when we need you most. When your own county wasn't enough to keep you busy, you went and helped organize others. Thank you.
I'm so proud that you're now stepping up to run for a service position yourself, and I wish you all the best. Stay feisty.
Coach. Our yard sign man. You have driven back and forth across this district, staking signs wherever someone asked for one. Every one of those signs is a neighbor telling another neighbor, "I'm voting for progress." You made that happen. Thank you.
To every volunteer. If you made a call, wrote a postcard, hosted a gathering, chipped in $10, or told a friend about us, you are part of this. A grassroots campaign is only as strong as its people, and ours was strong because of you. To each and every one of you: thank you.
What I learned
Nobody gives just because you ask. This has been a grassroots campaign from day one. We budgeted every penny, and I mean every penny. It has been tough. But every dollar we raised came from someone who believed in what we're doing, and I don't take a single one of them for granted.
This district is big. I've put more than 30,000 miles on my car, 500 on my bike, and who knows how many on my feet. I've learned the back roads, the small-town diners, and the long stretches of highway in between. Every mile was worth it, because every mile ended with someone to meet and a hand to shake.
Campaigns are impossible to predict. It is nerve-racking. You can't control the outcome. You can only do your very best and leave nothing on the table. I can tell you, with my whole heart, that my volunteers and I have done exactly that. I am so proud of the campaign that we built.
People are good, and we have more in common than we think. I've talked with Democrats, Republicans, independents, and folks who have never voted in their lives. Nearly all of them want the same things: food on the table, clean water, a safe roof overhead, and their families and friends cared for. They care about their neighbors, and they care about this country. Most of the time, you just have to ask the right questions and actually listen to the answers.
Wouldn't it be nice if we did more listening in this country?
You can't do it alone. One person can only do so much. This campaign taught me to rely on and trust other people. That trust was never misplaced.
Service has to start with people. I already loved the Constitution and this country. This campaign took that love to a whole new level. Shaking hands, sitting on porches, and hearing people's stories face to face changes how you see everything. When you take time to walk in someone else's shoes, you learn a lot. Perhaps we could use a healthy dose of empathy in this country.
I can't imagine anyone who represents the people, from a city council seat to the White House, wouldn't want to know who they're working for. That's the whole point of the job. If the people aren't first on your list of reasons for wanting it, then step aside, for the sake of our country.
Whatever Tuesday brings
I don't know how this election will turn out. Nobody does. But I know what we built: a campaign run by neighbors, for neighbors, with nothing held back. A grassroots campaign that knocked 18,300 doors, placed 50,000+ phone calls, and campaigned across 14 counties. I am so proud of the work that we have done.
I'll carry your stories with me, the ones from front porches, phone calls, diners, and ArtWalks. They changed me, and they'll keep shaping the way I serve, no matter where that service takes me.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Each of you has made me a better person. I am so honored to be on your November 3, 2026 ballot.
Warmest Regards,
Mitch
