Dear friends, I am so proud of our campaign! While we didn’t win the most votes in our race, we won in our efforts to educate, to inspire people to reach out, to become involved, and to communicate with one another! I called John McCravy yesterday to offer my congratulations on his win.
Through this campaign, I have met so many fantastic people and have become familiar with great neighborhoods and businesses. Truly, the good work going on across Greenwood County is inspiring! Thank you for all you’re doing!
I am so to grateful to and proud of each and every one of you who supported our campaign! Thank you for helping put out door hangers, giving out postcards, making donations, and getting others to the polls! We knew this was going to be an uphill battle. While we didn’t get the result we wanted, we have come that much closer to sending leaders to Columbia who will represent all communities in our district and help us move forward rather than trying hang on a romanticized past. We may have lost this election, but we are far from losing the fight.
This election saw a new level of engagement, resulting in a record breaking turn out! Now we must maintain that energy and keep pushing forward!
The challenges we face as a state and country are some of the greatest that we’ve seen in our lifetime. While the election may be over, we cannot afford to stop our work in our communities. I know that Waldrep workers will keep working toward that end! As John Lewis told us, we have to be pilot lights, not firecrackers!
We must never stop working together to paint a brighter future for all South Carolinians!
Thank you all!
Denise
Jose Villa for State Senate
I had to take some time, Jaime Harrison’s loss and down-ballot Democrats bombing took a toll on me. A week late but I publicly concede my run for State Senate for District 4. Congratulations Mike Gambrell on your reelection.
Thank you to everyone who has invested in me and my campaign. With finances, time, energy, skills, and resources. Thank you to those who have built me up, those who have given me guidance, given me words of affirmation and support. I have learned so much in a small time frame, this has been a huge crash course for me. I don’t know in what capacity I will continue but this isn’t it for me. I can’t remain inactive, I have to be a part of seeing positive change for the working class, the oppressed, and the suffering. I am for the people, not a party.
Times are changing, this is the beginning of a new South. A time where so many people that weren’t likely to be into politics are getting involved in the process. It is a slow progression but those who want to see a better America for the common folk, those who want to eliminate inequality, oppression, injustice, are getting more and more involved. It is a matter of time before this state becomes a swing state, I look forward to that day. It is not enough to just vote, we can’t rely on a few people to make the changes, especially when they don’t have our wellbeing in mind. We have to be a part of the process. We have to get involved in groups and organizations in electoral politics and mutual aid. We have to take direct action and go out to the streets and protest, reach out to our representatives, we can’t stay silent and immobile.
Here’s the reality of Jose For SC Senate: an overweight Mexican with holes in his ears, rings on his nose, who wears flat-bill hats, ran for public office. A man who was once an undocumented person and has been a naturalized citizen for only 4 years. A blue-collar construction worker outside the political arena put himself out there against a career politician. Someone that is introverted, that has mental health struggles, pushed himself to run because he is so desperate to see positve change. A lack of time, energy, money, and resources didn’t stop him.
I leave you with this. This is the America that I know. The America of immigrants, the melting pot of people. This is the reality of so many people here in South Carolina, this is the NEW SOUTH:
Hosea Cleveland for US Congress
Not all mountains can be summited, but how can we know unless we make the climb? So, every climb is an expression of hope and an inspiration to others.
Thank you to all who supported me and this campaign. Keep climbing and fighting for a more perfect union.
Jaime Harrison for US Senate
We didn’t get the result at the ballot box that we wanted, but we showed courage and determination. We brought hope back to South Carolina. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
