Mike Turner for Delegate

Friends,

Several months ago, I made the decision to run for a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates from the 33rd House District. I knew at the time that this would be a challenging race. Delegate Joe May is an entrenched incumbent. Yet I felt strongly at the time—and still feel—that times have changed in America. Voters are no longer content with “politics as usual.” For the first time in my lifetime, American’s have begun to seriously challenge the notion that mediocrity is acceptable among public servants.

We live in serious times that require assertive, principled leadership, not risk-averse, lackluster followership. Americans now realize that “politics as usual” is precisely what got us into this mess, and, unless we begin to elect people who aspire to a higher standard of public service than simply showing up year after year, we have no right to expect anything but more of the same.

And so, mindful of the difficulties, I accepted the challenge. In the past two months, however, two factors have combined to change the political landscape so dramatically that I believe I must, in good conscience, end my campaign for the Virginia House of Delegates. I’d like to explain those developments to you for just a moment.

First, as many of you know, I now work for Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring and empowering our newest generation of Wounded Warriors. In the past month, I have been privileged to have had a major role in helping to craft landmark legislation which, if passed by the current Congress, will profoundly improve the lives of literally tens of thousands of wounded warriors and their families. It is deeply gratifying work, but it has become work which requires an extraordinary commitment of time and energy on my part.

Second, we are now in the midst of the most challenging fundraising environment I have ever encountered—politically or throughout my 12-year nonprofit fundraising career. We are in a depression, we are coming off the most hard-fought and expensive Democratic national campaign in U.S. history, and there are literally dozens of Democratic candidates asking the same donors for money.

Neither of these factors, by themselves, would have been sufficient for me to end my campaign. But together, they have made it impossible for me, in good faith, to continue. Those of you who know me know I believe deeply in speaking plainly to the voters and committing my all to any endeavor I undertake. The plain truth is that I simply can no longer devote the 110 percent effort that this campaign will surely require.

Make no mistake. I still believe Delegate May is not serving his constituents well. Last week, he voted the party-line to turn down $125 million of economic stimulus money at the expense of the people of this district. In fact, since his own party backed a primary challenge against him years ago, Delegate May, despite his portrayal of himself as a moderate, has consistently voted with the extremist down-staters who have shut down Virginia government. This does not serve his community well.

I wish I was up to continuing this challenging race. I believe in the political process, I believe in this party, and I believe in the intelligence, compassion, and character of the people of the 33rd district. But they deserve a fully committed, singularly focused candidate, and, while I make no apologies, I can no longer be that candidate.

Politics are shifting sands. None of us knows what the future holds or what opportunities might lie ahead. I have dedicated my life to public service, and I’m not going anywhere. I will continue to hold our elected officials to a higher standard of accountability and dedication than that to which they have become accustomed. And so, until that next opportunity presents itself, I thank you deeply for your wonderful, continuing support. It has truly been an honor.

Mike Turner