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.
Wahls, the son of lesbian mothers, gave a remarkable three-minute speech that is still wholly relevant and important today. It instantly went viral.
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.
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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
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
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
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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