I need your help and I understand that money is tight these days. I'm running this campaign as lean as possible, with every dollar spent as if it were my own.  As you can imagine, this was not an easy decision. Campaigns are grueling. They require hard work and sacrifice. However, if you agree with me that we need serious change in congress, then I humbly request your support in making that change a reality.

I am running on the platform, "With Honor". With Honor Action is a cross-partisan movement dedicated to promoting and advancing principled veteran leadership in elected public service. For too long gridlock and partisan bickering has plagued Congress, putting a halt on progress at the expense of the American people. As a decorated veteran I am ready to step up and serve again, committed to putting my country before party politics.

Our country has been ripped apart by hyper-partisanship. We are a country where political leaders can’t even talk to each other, compromise, or get anything done. Debilitating partisanship in Washington is near a record high, while veteran representation in Congress is near a historic low. Veterans represented more than half of Congress for much of the second half of the 20th Century. Although veterans have declined in the U.S. population, the decline of veterans in Congress has been far more rapid. Veteran representation is near a historic low at less than 18%.

How does the decline of veterans in office correlate with the erosion of the middle ground in American politics? 

The erosion of the middle ground in American politics is illustrated by these cluster charts, which show voting trends and degree of collaboration of members in the U.S. House over time. This correlates with a declining percentage of veterans in Congress.

Research suggests that veterans are more likely than non-veteran politicians to work with their colleagues across the aisle. Veterans have scored higher than non-veterans on The Lugar Center’s Bipartisan Index, which measures how often a member crosses the aisle to sponsor or co-sponsor legislation.

Our campaign needs more money to keep our message in front of the voters. 
Your contribution of $25, $50, $75, $100 or even $500 will help us reach more voters through direct mail, social media, TV, and radio. A contribution of $15, $25, $75 will help to purchase additional yard signs for the district. I hope you can help.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. I leave you with my commitment that every dollar contributed will be spent with a single goal - to win this election.
I appreciate your continued support.
Your friend,

Mark Richardson