Growing up, I learned that “service” wasn’t something you put on a resume—it was just what you did. I come from a family of doers. My dad served this country in the army with dedication, integrity and grit. My granddad spent years as a public servant, first as Mayor and later as a county supervisor, always with a hand extended toward the people he served. His wife was a first-generation American, raised solely by her Swedish immigrant father. She grew up to be a public school teacher herself, cherished by parents and teachers alike in her tight-knit Morgan Hill community. My mom dedicated her life to elementary education, believing that public school classrooms were sacred spaces where every child deserved a shot at a bright future. Her parent’s served their community their whole careers as medical professionals. My grandfather was a dedicated dentist beloved by countless patients, often choosing in his free time to provide free and much-needed dental services to downtown San Jose’s homeless population. My grandmother, was a full-time Registered Nurse working with underserved populations at the Santa Clara County public hospital.

These people are my heroes. They taught me that loving your country doesn’t mean blindly defending it. Loving your country means showing up, putting in the work, and, yes, making sacrifices to ensure that the people around you have a fair shot.

For me, voting has always been one of the simplest ways to show respect for the sacrifices made by those who served and to live up to their legacy. It’s a way of saying, I understand what you stood for—and I’m doing my part to keep it alive.

Why Voting Feels Personal

My dad was a relatively quiet guy. He wasn’t one to brag about his service, even though I know he has some incredible stories I’d love to hear him tell, if only he’d break his oath. But that’s my dad—if he makes a promise, he aims to keeps it. And while I never followed his exact path into the military, I’ve always felt a responsibility to honor his legacy and others by serving my own community, doing my part to protect the principles he continues to believe in.

My mom, on the other hand, served in a different, but equally important kind of uniform: a teacher’s. For over 35 years, she helped shape young hearts and minds, always believing that education was the key to freedom and opportunity. Her dedication to public education was unwavering, and it’s one of the reasons I ran for office myself—to safeguard the very institutions that help build strong, capable and informed citizens. Public education isn’t just an ideal to me; it’s the very bedrock of our democracy, our way of ensuring a fair shot for every child.

These lessons from my family aren’t just things I carry in my heart; they’re the very reasons I’m asking you today to vote.

What’s at Stake

Look, I know every election gets billed as “the most important one.” I’ve used this exact same phrase countless times knocking on voter’s doors. But this year, it truly feels like the stakes couldn’t be higher. We’re not just voting on policies or parties—we’re voting on our core principles and values. We’re voting on what kind of country we want to live in and the kind of future we want to build together.

I believe we owe it to those who came before us—and to those who will come after—to show up and vote for a future where integrity, respect, and compassion aren’t just ideals, but actions. And right now, these values need protecting more than ever. This is our chance to live up to the legacy of all those who’ve served, sacrificed, and built this country up piece by piece.

This Is What It Means to Love Your Country

Sometimes, it feels like loving one’s country is misunderstood. It’s not about wearing patriotism on your sleeve or shouting it from the rooftops. For me, it’s always been quieter, but no less fierce. Loving your country is showing up for others and doing the work, every day, to keep it fair, just, and kind. It’s about building a community that holds each other up rather than tearing each other down. It’s about putting in the effort—even when it’s uncomfortable, even when it’s scary, even when it’s inconvenient—because that’s how you protect something as precious as this fledgling, upstart, 245-year-old democratic experiment.

So, as we approach Election Day, I’m asking you for just one thing: vote. Show up not because you have to, but because you want to. Vote with your heart, with your values, and with an eye toward the kind of future we’re building together – one that we will all be proud to leave for future generations.

We may not all agree, and that’s okay (even healthy). But, I’m hoping there is one thing that we can all agree – our democracy is absolutely worth defending. The sacrifices made by those who served, by families like mine, and, I’m sure, by families like yours, deserve our respect. Let’s honor that legacy the best way we can. Let’s vote.