I’m Qasim Rashid and I’m running for Congress in Virginia’s First District.
When running for Congress, you meet all walks of life. I called a woman in my district yesterday, simply to thank her for donating to my State Senate race in 2019. She was driving and told me she had to pull off to the side of the road because she had something to tell me. Turns out, she had been a Republican for 30 years. She found herself researching the Republican platform to better inform people as to why they should support Republicans. She found the exact opposite. She realized the Republican platform was full of half-truths and propaganda. She found our campaign through social media and ended up giving a modest and meaningful donation.
Later in the day, I went for coffee with a self-proclaimed Trump supporter who lives in the district. He wanted to sit down with me after I was maligned by my Republican opponent for being an American Muslim and an immigrant. He was amazed that instead of fighting fire with fire, I responded with compassion and education. Better yet, he has invited me to his home to speak with his Republican friends and family members.
Engagement doesn’t mean an endorsement, but it is how we build bridges of understanding. Our campaign is about building bridges and learning to understand each other—for those willing to dialogue. We will win this race because we are bringing people together, staying true to our values, and listening to people.
We hope you join our fight for working families. Will you chip in today?