When we launched this race in June 2011, we knew it would be a hard-fought journey. That my path through the primary was not clear.

We’ve spoken with thousands in the 1st district who see the American Dream slipping from their grasp. Who work hard every day but struggle to make a living wage. Who can’t afford health care for their families, or can’t afford to retire with dignity.

We fought against long odds. We left no stone unturned. We scrapped for every vote.

But we came up a little short.

I am incredibly proud of the campaign that we ran.

Thank you to my wonderful campaign staff and to all of the volunteers who truly fueled this campaign from the ground up. I couldn’t have done it without you.

And thank you to my husband, Craig, for his unwavering support when our house turned into campaign headquarters. And to my two wonderful stepkids, Jake and Amelia, who would have liked to see me home for dinner and helping with homework a little more often.

Now it’s time to regroup and continue working hard for the people we met along this journey. We need to re-elect Barack Obama as President of the United States so the people of our district who want affordable healthcare have a champion in the White House.

We need to make sure that Jay Inslee becomes the next governor from the State of Washington, and we must put the 1st Congressional district in Democratic hands. I would like to offer my endorsement to Suzan DelBene in her upcoming fight against John Koster.

We must also approve Referendum 74 so that any two Americans who want to get married finally have that right. We must elect Democrats up and down the ticket to keep fighting for our American Dream.

I live all of these issues every day. Just like you do. Now is the time to go out there and fight for our values, for what we believe in as Democrats.

Thank you for this amazing journey and for all of your help and support along the way. I am truly humbled by each and every one of you.

Thank you,

My mother. My father. My sister. My two sisters-in-law. Over the last few years, they’ve all battled cancer. And one of my sisters-in-law died.

There are many reasons why I’m running for Congress at this time of great turmoil over the economy, spending, and the future of Social Security and Medicare. But defending President Obama’s health care law is my most personal reason. I don’t want an insurance company to ever again be able to deny coverage for a pre-existing condition.

I’ve fought these battles before. As a state legislator, I passed a law helping low-income women get breast cancer treatment. I reached across party lines to support our schools and balance the budget. I worked with biotech firms and companies like Boeing and Microsoft to provide incentives for job growth.

At this time of partisan gridlock, no one will out-work me to make change happen. The fight for health care reform – just like the fight for jobs, to support our veterans, for a woman’s right to choose, to strengthen Social Security and Medicare, and for a tax system that ensures the wealthiest 1% pay their fair share – is hard work, especially with a budget so far out of balance. We cannot saddle our children with debt they can never repay.

As a small businesswoman raising a family in a suburban neighborhood with kids in public school, I live all of these issues every day. Just like you do. I share your priorities of investing in education, health care, and job creation. I haven’t given up, and I hope you haven’t either. I ask for your vote so we can change Congress together.

Endorsed by King and Snohomish County Democrats; Snohomish County Sheriff John Lovick; Skagit County Sheriff Will Reichardt; former State Senator Harriet Spanel; and many other legislators.

Join our campaign and the 45th Legislative District Democrats for a primary election night party!

Tuesday, August 7
6:00-11:00pm

Wilde Rover Irish Pub & Restaurant
111 Central Way
Kirkland, Washington 98033

RSVP here

98% of my contributions are from people like you. That’s why one of my highest priorities in Congress will be to pass the Buffett Rule once and for all.

I am proud to be running a campaign fueled by people who know how hard I will fight for them in Congress. We can start by passing the Buffett Rule. It is simply unacceptable that a middle class family should pay a higher percentage of their taxes than millionaires or billionaires.

We must make sure that a Tea Party Republican does not win this race. That’s why I am asking you to dig deep and donate $10, $25, or $50 today.

I am incredibly grateful to be on this journey with you. Thank you again for your unwavering support as we near the finish line.

Best wishes,

President Obama has stepped up his call for Congress to pass the Buffett Rule, a simple idea that no household making more than one million dollars a year should pay a smaller share of its income than the average middle class family.  Not only does Laura support the Buffett Rule, but if you help elect her to Congress, she will lead the fight.

Check out the campaign’s new cut of the video here!