I’m a lifelong Mohawk Valley resident, an art educator, a local small business owner, and someone who grew up in a working-class family that shaped my understanding of what economic pressure really feels like. Everything I’ve done in my life and career has kept me close to the realities of working people, from the affordability crisis to the daily challenges families face amidst the growing financial strain.

I’m part of a new generation of Democrats who believe that leaders should come from the communities they hope to serve, not from political bubbles that ignore the struggles of ordinary people. Across the country, Democratic women are winning elections in communities disregarded by their Republican politicans, including right here in upstate New York. Their success reflects a growing hunger for leaders who recognize what working families are up against.

I intend to be one of those women. I will stand up for workers, confront Republican extremism, and bring focus back to the challenges faced by people like the family I grew up in and the community I’ve spent my entire life being part of.