Send C.J. to the Democratic National Convention!

Friends,

I've gotten to know so many of you over the last several years as we've worked together for Democratic candidates across the state of Iowa. As a former Democratic candidate for the Iowa state senate, I know it's not easy in western Iowa to get up everyday and have hope for our political future. But I'm no quitter, and neither are any of our great Iowa Democrats.

Being a delegate to the national convention at 34 years old is an honor, and it's an honor to be asked by the Harris campaign to serve on the rules committee for the convention. But it's not cheap: delegates must pay our own way, and so I'm sending this note to see whether you're willing to help me out one more time, just as you did before when I ran for office.

Some of you haven't met me yet. If not, let me introduce myself: I'm C.J. Petersen, and I'm just your average gay, deaf, small-town Iowan. I struggled with addiction for most of my twenties, which taught me some hard lessons about overcoming obstacles in life. My subsequent journey to sobriety led me to run for office, go back to college, and work in Iowa Democratic politics for Senator Bernie Sanders, Admiral Mike Franken, and Warren County Auditor Kimberly Sheets (flipping a Trump +17 county by over 50 points!). Simply put: The road ahead won't be easy for Iowa Democrats, but I know we've got a great foundation to get this party moving again.

It was an honor to work with all of you as I served as the Iowa Democratic Party’s Stonewall Caucus chair. Thanks to the opportunity we had to serve, my husband and I were invited to the White House in December 2022, where President Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act into law, protecting the right to marry for same-sex and interracial couples.

I was elected to serve as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention to  nominate Vice President Harris for President of the United States on behalf of all of you, the communities we represent, and the work we're doing together to help rebuild the Iowa Democratic Party from the grassroots on up.

I'd be honored to have your financial support as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago!

Best,

C.J. Petersen