In 2018, I ran for US Congress in New Mexico’s 2nd congressional district. I knew as a newcomer and an outerside to politics, it would be a longshot, and I in fact did not win the primary. However, I do think I achieved my goals and managed to win 7% of the Republican vote despite spending a tiny fraction of what the other candidates spent.

I was motivated to run largely out of seeing the hateful rhetoric that had overtaken the Republican Party with the ascension of Donald Trump. New Mexico is a state with a large immigrant population, and a large Latino population, with many families living here long before here became America. The other candidates largely pushed the same hateful, racist messaging that we were hearing from Donald Trump. So, it was important to me that these Republican voters heard another voice on the campaign trail, one that wasn’t focused on hate and understood the immense value diversity and immigration brings to our country.

Even though I didn’t win, I can’t say that I’m done with politics forever. It has always been an interest of mine, and I feel passionately about helping our country move in a good direction. But I’m not a politician. Still, if an opportunity arises where my hard work might make a difference for our Democracy, I’m willing to throw my hat back in the ring.