Thread by @GaryChambersJr

I’ve received hundreds if not thousands of comments, messages, emails asking me to run for office. I ran for State Senate last year. We lost. But we learned. I’m on here ballot in July. Read the full caption on IG.

instagram.com/tv/CB3NDslHr-Z…

I’ve received hundreds if not thousands of comments, messages, emails asking me to run for office. Most of you are new to this journey with me and don’t know, but I did run for office. I ran for State Senate last year. Not because I wanted a title, but because I wanted to make

change happen. We lost. •

Losing the election was a hard thing for me, it cost me far more to run for office than most. My friends were intimidated, we struggled to raise funds, and while we ran a hell of a race we came up way short. But I wouldn’t change it for anything.

I learned so much in the process. •

If I’m honest, I felt rejected by the community I love. It hurt. I questioned should I stop speaking up, because it was one of the very things that made people dislike me as a candidate. I don’t mix my words, my yes is yes, and my no is no.

So I had to decide was I going to keep showing up and being Gary or change for everyone else so I became more “electable” in the future.

I had a conversation with myself and decided I’d rather be at peace with myself and at war with the world, than at war with myself to have peace with the world. So I kept showing up. I showed up when they talked about me, when they lied on me and to me. I just kept showing up,

and what you all saw was me showing up again. And now we are here. •

I also qualified to run for the local Democratic Party to help create change at the lowest level possible. After running I realized how biased the process was, and I’m currently on the ballot for the July election to the local party. Early voting is actually going on now

and Election Day is July 10th. If you want to support that the link is in the bio. Just know, I’m going to keep showing up.

Losing wasn’t a bad thing, it prepared me for this moment.

Soon I’ll have a chance to share with you all the hard lessons I’ve learned and hopefully help more of us show up in our cities all over. I believe in our collective power to make change. We just have to learn how to do the work even when things don’t pan out the way we hope.

I’ll share if you’re willing to listen, and together we will build a more just and equitable society. #ChangeIsComing