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In 2011, then-19-year-old Zach Wahls took to the microphone during a public forum to denounce House Joint Resolution 6 in the Iowa House of Representatives, which would end civil unions in Iowa.
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Wahls, the son of lesbian mothers, gave a remarkable three-minute speech that is still wholly relevant and important today. It instantly went viral.
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Today, Wahls announced his candidacy for the 37th district of Iowa’s State Senate. The seat will be open in 2018 as State Senator Bob Dvorsky is retiring. In a Twitter thread articulately reminiscent of his viral speech in 2011, Wahls outlined his pitch to voters– and stuck the landing.
IOWA — Remember that young man from Iowa who spoke to the Iowa legislature a few years ago about growing up with two moms? Hi. That was me — and today, I'm announcing my campaign to join the Iowa legislature. I hope you'll support our campaign. https://t.co/jrEleWPyWk
— Zach Wahls (@ZachWahls) December 21, 2017
I am running for Iowa Senate District 37, which is my home. It is where I grew up, where I went to high school, where I got my first job, and where I started my first business.
— Zach Wahls (@ZachWahls) December 21, 2017
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I'm running for a simple reason: our state is at a crossroads that will define the future of our state for generations to come.
— Zach Wahls (@ZachWahls) December 21, 2017
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And like so many people who have signed on with @runforsomething, I feel the responsibility to do my part.
— Zach Wahls (@ZachWahls) December 21, 2017
No state in the country had a bigger swing from Obama in 2012 to Trump in 2016 than Iowa did. Iowa Republicans took over our state legislature and immediately began to dismantle our state's social foundation.
— Zach Wahls (@ZachWahls) December 21, 2017
On health care: our state is experiencing a mental health crisis, and Iowa ranks dead last in the county — 51st! — in terms of public psychiatric beds per capita. Suicide rates are spiking in our rural communities, and Republicans are shutting down mental health facilities.
— Zach Wahls (@ZachWahls) December 21, 2017
Medicaid privatization has been a disaster that is costing our state hundreds of millions of dollars. It is hurting tens of thousands of people, including right here in our district.
— Zach Wahls (@ZachWahls) December 21, 2017
On Education — instead of making college *more* affordable for Iowans, Republicans are going in exactly the opposite direction, slashing $55M from higher education.
— Zach Wahls (@ZachWahls) December 21, 2017
I was fortunate enough to graduate debt-free from the University of Iowa, for which I am incredibly grateful. We need *more* people graduating with *less* debt — Iowa Republicans are pushing the exact opposite.
— Zach Wahls (@ZachWahls) December 21, 2017
Further, Iowa Republicans dramatically restricted the growth of K12 spending which hurts both students and teachers. On *top* of that, Iowa GOP gutted collective bargaining for public employees, including public school teachers.
— Zach Wahls (@ZachWahls) December 21, 2017
We have to restore the growth in K12 spending, we have to protect everybody's right to form a union, and we have to recommit ourselves to building a strong social foundation for all Iowans.
— Zach Wahls (@ZachWahls) December 21, 2017
Two quick notes about how we're going to run this campaign. FIRST, I am incredibly conscientious of the fact that I am a straight white guy running in the #MeToo moment.
— Zach Wahls (@ZachWahls) December 21, 2017
I am running because I believe all Iowans need a seat at the table. That absolutely means more women running, it means more young people, it means more people of color.
— Zach Wahls (@ZachWahls) December 21, 2017
This is an all hands on deck situation that is going to determine the future of our state for generations to come — and all hands means all hands.
— Zach Wahls (@ZachWahls) December 21, 2017
I am going to listen to women. I am going to hold myself and the men around me accountable for our behavior. For our generation, this is a basic qualification, but I feel it is one that is important to name and to say out loud.
— Zach Wahls (@ZachWahls) December 21, 2017
Standing up to patriarchy has been an important part of my work in support of LGBTQ rights and that is not going to stop now.
— Zach Wahls (@ZachWahls) December 21, 2017
SECOND — I am currently a student at @WilsonSchool, finishing my master's degree in public policy. Princeton is allowing me to finish my degree while I am living and campaigning in Iowa.
— Zach Wahls (@ZachWahls) December 21, 2017
I am going to attend my final classes remotely, be on campus a few days a month, and finish my degree from Iowa. Funnily enough, the primary election is the same day as commencement… so I won't be able to walk, but I will be able to run.
— Zach Wahls (@ZachWahls) December 21, 2017
In these next five months, I will be traveling the district, visiting Solon and Tipton and Mechanicsville and Wilton and more — meeting with folks, listening to people’s stories, and hearing about your concerns and what you think our team’s priorities should be if we win.
— Zach Wahls (@ZachWahls) December 21, 2017
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I am excited, I am fired up, I am ready to go, and I am committed to working my heart out for the people of this district. Let's get this.
— Zach Wahls (@ZachWahls) December 21, 2017
While the resolution back in 2011 was passed by Republicans 62-37 – now moot after the landmark 2015 Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges legalizing same sex marriage in the United States – the moment set the stage for a deserving young man to gain national attention.
While the Republican Party has proven itself willing to thwart the will of the people, leaders like Zach will restore a much needed sense of dignity and accountability to government.
Support Wahls’ campaign here.
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