Friend,

For a lot of us, the turning of the year brings a look back at a year’s worth of decisions, moments, and events – and a renewal of resolve about what to make of the year ahead.

To put it mildly, 2025 brought a new volume of things to deal with, and to learn from. It asked more of us than most years do. And now, 2026 is approaching with a different kind of urgency, not only because of what’s at stake, but because of what we have the opportunity to build.

As we closed the books on 2025 at Win the Era, I reflected with enormous gratitude on the people who made it possible to keep our work going through such a demanding year. More than 122,000 people chose to give. 96% were doing so for the first time. And the average contribution – $26.19 – is a quiet reminder that this work is built through everyday acts of commitment, repeated across the country by people who decided to take part rather than stand aside.

Thanks to the support of this community, 2026 will be a year of showing up. I’ll be spending the year listening and engaging – on the road, in conversations, and in communities that don’t always feel seen or heard. It will mean supporting leaders early, sometimes before the spotlight finds them; staying present in places where trust is earned slowly; and continuing to make the case for a politics grounded in dignity, belonging, and responsibility.

Progress doesn’t arrive all at once. It’s delivered over time, through sustained effort, careful listening, and people choosing again and again to build hope through concrete action.

As we step into the year ahead, I draw real hope from knowing there are people like you in this community – people who believe the future isn’t something we wait for, but something we shape together.

Thank you for being part of this.

Pete