Election Night Victory Speech

Hello, everyone!

Thank you so much for being here. Thank you to all of our supporters and volunteers and staff and everyone on Team SJ who poured their hearts and souls into this campaign. We could not have done it without you, and I am so incredibly grateful for your efforts, and the trust you put in me.

We don’t yet know what will happen in the Presidential race. It has been a long four years, and I know all of us are eager to turn the page. But it is incredibly important that we wait until every vote is counted. The consequences are too high to rush.

And, what we’ve known all along, is that regardless of who the President is, the next Congress will be making incredibly important decisions about how we pull ourselves out of the current economic and public health crisis. Whether we expand the Supreme Court. If we finally address climate change, racial injustice, and so much more.

Regardless of who the President is, Congress will have to exercise oversight. Reclaim our rightful authority to declare war and peace. And end the forever wars.

Regardless of who the President is, we need leaders in Congress who will stand up for what is right. For what their constituents need, not what donors or special interests demand.

Our race here in the 53rd District was about so much more than one person. It was about putting an end to the toxic politics of division. It was about showing that we don’t have to settle for the way things have always been done. It was about sending a new generation of leaders to Congress who will do things differently, and listen to everyone, respect everyone, and actually get things done for our community.

I know this year isn’t what we had expected. We have been tested in ways we never could have imagined.

When COVID hit San Diego, our campaign stayed true to our core mission: being of service. We closed our offices and made calls every day to check on community members and connect them with the resources and help they needed. We volunteered at food distributions, donated blood, shopped at small businesses, and did our part to lift up our community.

I really am so proud of everything we did on this campaign. We showed that we can hold onto our values and beliefs and build coalitions of unlikely partners. We showed that we can’t just talk about doing politics differently, we have to actually DO politics differently. We showed that people would rather TRUST their representatives, than agree with them on everything.

This team has been truly incredible. Throughout this election, our grassroots campaign made more than 1.8 million calls to voters. We sent more than 90,000 texts. And before COVID, we knocked on more than 150,000 doors.

As we move beyond the past four years of fear and fighting like never before, we now have an opportunity like never before — an opportunity to define who we’re going to be as Americans and who we’re going to be as San Diegans. An opportunity to rebuild our country and our community in a way that reflects who we are — and more importantly — who we choose to be.

And today, the voters in this District made a very clear choice.

You chose hope and unity.

You chose a path where we respect each other, listen to each other, and work with one another.

You chose to move beyond the same tired fights of the past .. and you chose to put your faith in the next generation of leadership.

And there is no time to waste. We have a lot of work to do, and I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and get to it.

I am going to Washington as only the third woman to ever represent San Diego in Congress, and as one of the youngest women ever to serve, from anywhere. And I take that responsibility seriously — to carry the mantle of a generation burdened by student debt and living through the second economic crisis of our adult lives. I’m ready to fight — for my generation and future generations — to make sure that our schools are safe, that our planet is livable, that we end the Forever Wars and uphold our responsibility to our veterans and military families. We’re ready for a change, and I’m ready to fight alongside all of you to make it happen.

And to all of the young people watching, know that your voice is more important now than ever. Don’t let anyone tell you you aren’t ready, or you don’t know enough. You are enough. And we need you. We need your voice. Right now.

I also want to thank Georgette Gómez. A few minutes ago, I spoke with Georgette and congratulated her on a race well run. Throughout the campaign, she elevated the issue of climate action and environmental justice, and I know the race was better for it. I promise to champion protecting our climate in Congress and I hope Georgette and I can work together to move this district forward.

I also want to thank Susan Davis. Susan has been an incredible leader for our community for two decades. In meeting after meeting — with Democrats, Republicans, and independents — constituents spoke so highly of her representation. I know I have big shoes to fill, and I look forward to working with Susan and her team to make sure the district is well served.

And to all of you, thank you again, from the bottom of my heart. To our volunteers and supporters. To my family. To our campaign team — Marvin, Murphy, Sal, Jake, Gibhran, Maresa, Katie, and Amy — who honestly feel like family. To our interns and fellows. I’m so honored to have been on this journey with you. And I’m so looking forward to building the future we all deserve, together.

So thank you all again. I’m so honored to be your Congresswoman-elect!