Why am I running?
Is the question I am always asked. Along with do you think you can win, why do you think you are qualified to run, and what exactly are you running for? You can read my “about” section to learn more about my professional background. I find this to be a portion of why I think I am qualified to run. My background is diverse for most 31-year old people. I have had large scale multi-million dollar negotiations that impact global economies, I have worked in the education sector, I have worked in the real estate market, sat on city boards, and operated a small local business. These experiences are vital to being a successful politician. However, I believe personal experiences are also important.
I am running because I always hear people say “I am sick of picking between the lesser of two evils” or “both candidates suck, but I had to pick one.” I am running to change that. I believe my track record shows, that I will meet with anyone to talk about issues that effect people and have no problem taking the less popular stance. The term “politician” has become a dirty word throughout the years, but to me it means that you serve and are involved in your community. I want to be a politician. I want to serve my community and constituents. I want to get away from the political tribalism where we blame the others and only serve the corporate interest. I want to try to serve as someone that unites the community rather then someone who looks to create division. I want to be someone who when the younger generation asks “what did you do to make the world a better place?” I have something to respond with.
I believe with a uniting message I stand a chance to win. This district leans very Democratic, as Hillary won last year by 13 percentage points. I will also be Hillary’s first challenger in a primary which is something she has not faced before. Someone who shares the same core values of being pro-choice, supporting immigration, and standing with social issues. However, we differ in the non-clickbait topics that get lost among the 24-hour news cycles. Hillary is one of the most well funded candidates from corporate dollars and out of state doners which will prove to be a challenge for me. However, I will not let this discourage me from being another option for people outside of the corporate dollars.
My personal experiences are ones that have shaped me as a person and my perspective on the world. After my failed State Representative campaign I spent just under a year backpacking Central America, and South America. I grew up spending summers in the Middle East visiting family and hold a European passport. The purpose was to better understand the culture and people. These are all things I believe will help me understand topics of immigration, foreign affairs, and global trade. America is the most influential country in the world and it is important that we continue to make allies throughout the world. We can do this by having well-rounded politicians that understand the intricate parts of these countries.
I want to finish this blog by describing my goals of this campaign. Yes, I hope to win and represent the people of Michigan’s 3rd Congressional district. However, my main goal is to educate people. I want to bring awareness to issues that are ignored by corporate media outlets, make people more aware of how their hard earned tax dollars are being spent, and to be someone that people can ask questions to. My promise to people is that I will do my best to explain both sides of an issue to the best of my ability. I will always state my sources and share what I think are the pros/cons of an issue.
-Salim
