I am overwhelmed with gratitude. Truly. When I looked around the room at my kickoff and birthday celebration, surrounded by friends, family, supporters, colleagues, and neighbors, I felt the weight and warmth of community in a way that reminded me exactly why I do this work.

Your presence meant the world to me. To have you all there, to celebrate not just another year of my life, but to launch this campaign together, to recommit to the fight for a more just Oregon, that was everything. And when the mariachi band started playing some of my favorite songs, I couldn’t help but smile. That’s community. That’s culture. That’s love. That moment captured what this movement is all about: joy, connection, and shared commitment.

I also want to thank everyone for your incredible generosity. We have raised upward of $13,000, and contributions continue to come in. That support means we can reach more voters, knock on more doors, and amplify the voices of working people across our district. Every dollar represents your belief in this work and your investment in a better future for all of us.

But beyond the fundraising numbers, what moved me most was what I heard from you. As I moved through the room, listening to conversations, hearing from community members about what matters most to them, I was struck by the clarity of your vision for Oregon. You know what we need. You’ve known for a long time.

We need strong education systems, from preschool through college and accessible childcare for all families. We need good jobs that actually pay living wages so working people can support themselves and their families with dignity. We need strong healthcare systems, and we need single-payer insurance so that healthcare is a right, not a privilege determined by wealth. We need to take care of our elderly and our most vulnerable, including our children. We need to protect our civil rights and our democracy from those who would undermine them. We need to abolish ICE and protect our immigrant neighbors.

And here’s what stood out to me: people want everyone to pay their fair share. You understand that in order for all of us to have a slice of the American dream, the wealthy and the corporations need to contribute to the systems that made their success possible. We need to tax the rich. We need to make housing affordable so families aren’t choosing between rent and food. We need systems that work for everyone, not just those at the top.

These aren’t new demands. As your representative, I have been hearing these needs, these demands for justice, from you. But, hearing them again, directly, passionately, repeatedly, it reinforced what I already knew: our community knows what we need. Our community knows what’s right. And our community is ready to fight for it.

I came into this campaign knowing I had work to do. But I’m leaving that celebration knowing I have a community ready to do it alongside me. That changes everything.

We cannot do this alone. But together? Together we can transform Oregon. Together we can build a state where education is fully funded and accessible to all. Where jobs pay living wages and provide dignity. Where healthcare is a right. Where elderly people and children are cared for with respect. Where everyone, including the wealthy, pays their fair share so that we can all thrive. Where civil rights and democracy are protected. Where immigrant families are safe and valued.

I cannot wait for our community to do great things at the Capitol together once we win again. And we will win. Because we have each other. Because we have vision. Because we have determination. Because we have love for this state and its people.

Thank you. Thank you for showing up. Thank you for believing in this work. Thank you for being willing to fight alongside me. Thank you for reminding me what community really means.

The work continues. Let’s build the Oregon we deserve, together.
¡Gracias! ¡Que viva nuestra comunidad! ¡El poder al pueblo!

Lesly Muñoz