Jacalyn Wetzel Testing the Waters Campaign - 2024 House of Representatives

Look, I'm just a mom trying to raise her kids in a world they can be proud of. I'm raising them to be kind and treat your babies with respect. I've watched as the political landscape went from being a bad take on the Mean Girls movie where everyone said ugly things behind each other's backs but worked together when needed, to people being outright hostile and unsafe. This isn't the world I want for them and quite frankly it isn't the world I want for any of us. We deserve to be treated with dignity, respect and kindness, even when we disagree.

Disagreeing is part of politics. Heck, disagreeing is part of existing in life but we can't disagree about human rights. At no point do I want anyone to lose basic human rights whether they vote red, blue or plaid with zebra stripes. I'm truly interested in what all parties want so if I run and get elected I can accurately represent ALL of the people in my district, not just the loud few. 

At heart I'm a social worker. I know how to listen. I know how to advocate and I know how to make things happen. I never thought I would even consider a run for office, but we all can't wait for Gen Z to be old enough to carry the torch. We're the adults in the room and it's time for us to stand up. So, I'm standing up. Terrified and with very little clue on what I'm doing. But the one thing no one will ever be able to say about me is that I didn't try.