Hey John, it’s Sarah. 

I’ve always felt called to serve my community — no matter where that calling has brought me, or what form it took. I’ve served as a minister, a nonprofit leader, and a State Senator. Now, I’m running for Congress to stand up for all of the hardworking families in IA-03 who’ve been left behind by politics as usual in Washington.

I want to share my story — and some old photos — with you, but if you’re already with me, can I count on you to chip in to my campaign and help me flip IA-03?

My call to service first brought me to Gallup, New Mexico, where I joined AmeriCorps as a VISTA program volunteer working at a legal aid clinic to help victims of domestic violence rebuild their lives.

I knew I could do more, so I took a job as a hospital chaplain, and on my first night, I was called to baptize two babies who were being coded in the NICU. It was an incredibly difficult experience, but looking back, I knew I’d made a difference, and that ministry was something I could do. So I worked nights and weekends as a chaplain at a children’s hospital while attending seminary. As a chaplain, I supported families in some of the most challenging periods in their lives, and those moments inform who I am as a minister today.

I first served a parish in rural Virginia until my husband got offered a job at Drake University in Des Moines, and I was called to a suburban church in Clive. Eventually, I decided it was time to take my ministry from the parish and out into the community. Now I work with an interfaith food pantry network to bring our diverse religious communities together to address food insecurity in the Des Moines area. And I still find the time to preach on the weekends, anywhere they’ll have a lady pastor in the pulpit. I joke that I’m everyone's favorite Lutheran Minister.

As I got more involved, I saw firsthand how many of my elected officials were putting partisan politics ahead of serving our community. If I wanted to solve the problems facing my community, secure funding for public schools, prevent gun violence, and stand up for women’s reproductive rights, I needed to step up and run for public office myself. So I did — and flipped a Republican seat from red to blue in the Iowa State Senate.

In the State Senate, I champion affordable healthcare, defend public schools, push for access to quality childcare, and do everything I can to advocate for reproductive freedom. 

Now, I’m running for Congress to cut costs for families, support our public schools, protect our rights and freedoms, and so much more. And it all starts by winning this race and giving Iowans a real voice in Washington.

I know I don’t have the background of a typical politician. But that’s exactly what Iowa needs right now, because it’s politics-as-usual that’s failing Iowa.

I’m ready for the tough fight ahead, John, but I can’t do this alone. So if you’re ready to flip this seat and give Iowa’s working families a real voice in Congress, please donate to my campaign today and help me continue building the momentum we need to win this race. →

I appreciate you for reading this all the way through, John. I hope I can count on your support to win this race for IA-03 and stand up for everyday Iowans in Washington.

Thank you,

Sarah