Writing you from our Dodge Grand Caravan, four days into an eight day road trip. We haven’t had much sleep, could probably be eating a little healthier, but everyone’s in high spirits.

While we have reliable cell service, I thought I’d share some thoughts from the first half of this trip.

I flew in to San Angelo after votes on Friday afternoon. Cynthia was celebrating her daughter’s college graduation (Go Isabel!), so Erica joined us again for this leg. She had already picked up the minivan and we were off to Angelo State University where we were welcomed by more than 300 for our third town hall in San Angelo in the last year. A lively discussion about immigration, healthcare and how we better serve our veterans.

Woke up the next morning in Ozona where Jacob personally opened up his Sonic Restaurant earlier than usual for a 7:00 a.m. town hall with his community. As we walked from the hotel to the restaurant, Josh and Ann drove by on their way to Austin yelling, “ese Beto!” Energized all of us. The group in Ozona asked about education, and how we can make sure that we have the backs of our teachers.

From Ozona to Eldorado. Town hall questions focused on bipartisanship. How we can all work together for the benefit of Texas and this country. How we can get past anything that might otherwise divide us so we can get on with the business of making sure each one of us can contribute to the greater good. One man said he and his wife are the “black sheep in the room,” conservative Republicans. But more important than what party we belong to is the fact that we’re all Americans. All Texans. All willing to commit to making this a better state and a better country.

From Eldorado to Sonora. Exactly zero RSVPs on the Facebook event, but we pull up to Snowflake Donuts to find 15 people in the parking lot! Handmade signs, handmade shirts, lots of energy. Others are waiting to join us inside. We share some donuts and talk about protecting healthcare, keeping Dreamers in our communities, and ending the federal prohibition on marijuana.

From Sonora to Rocksprings. Up to the second floor of the Edwards County Courthouse where it’s filled with good people, great questions. We discussed our plans for the future of our state in both English and in Spanish. Ensuring every Texan can have a job that gives them purpose, pays them above a living wage.

From Rocksprings to Leakey for our fifth town hall of the day. The drive into Real County was one of the most beautiful I can remember. Brought back memories from a spring break trip Amy, the kids, and I took two years ago — it was raining then but not Saturday. A hundred people fill the room with the energy overflowing into the parking lot. Questions focused on education; how we support our teachers in the classroom and after they retire, ensuring every child gets a high quality public education, and how we make higher education more affordable, accessible.

From Leakey into San Antonio. Joined the Fiesta celebration. Garden parties in King Williams, Flambeau parade, handing out medals, trading medals, meeting our fellow Texans. Will sold water all day, donated his sales to the campaign. Closed out a long day but one that proves by running this race together, we’re more than a match for any special interests, any corporations, any political action committees, any political machine, any attempt to scare us or divide us up.

New day, same beautiful sky over head. From San Antonio to Austin for the Jolt State Convention where we took questions from the leaders of today. Honored to have their endorsement. Grateful to have the energy, advocacy and ideas of Jolt members across the state as we work together to lead on healthcare, immigration, and treating all people with dignity.

From Austin to Houston. A big town hall hosted by Councilman Boykins in Sunnyside. We were grilling hot dogs outside, answering questions inside. An energizing welcome, an informative town hall, great ideas for how we get Texas and our country moving in the right direction, a pledge taken to come back again. We’ll be back.

Four days, eight town halls. The people of Texas leading this campaign every mile of the way. Now heading to the RGV. Four more days to come. Town hall in Brownsville, town hall in McAllen, town hall in Laredo, concert in Edinburg, block walks, community roundtables.

Six months to go, we have to win. Feeling lucky to be alive, fortunate to be doing this with you, grateful for your energy, your support, your strength.

Adelante,

Beto