You and I havenât met yet but the events of this past Tuesday means that we absolutely should. We havenât met yet, but Tuesdayâs results show there is so much more we can achieve together. {NAME},  You and I havenât met yet, but my name is Jerrad Christian and I am the Democrat running to unseat Congressman Troy Balderson (R-OH) in Ohioâs 12th Congressional district - the Columbus suburbs and Appalachian portion of central Ohio.  You probably arenât too familiar with Ohioâs 12th district but hereâs why this race matters. This past Tuesday, Ohio voters came out in full force and demolished the Ohio GOP nixing their plans to implement a totalitarian abortion ban passed by our republican state legislature. In a state that voted for Mike DeWine and J.D. Vance just a few months after the Dobbs decision struck down federal abortion rights, this is a big dealâand it shows just how much things are changing here in battleground Ohio.  Tuesdayâs vote showed that if we keep up the same momentum, engage with rural voters along with our urban coalition, we could flip districts like mine that lack real leadership and representation. To take back the House in 2024 we will need to flip districts like mine and I know our campaign can do itâhereâs why:  Like many people in OH-12, I grew up in extreme poverty in the Appalachian region of Ohio - the kind of poverty that left me and my family uncertain about whether we'd have enough to eat the next day.  After graduating high school, I made the decision to join the US Navy where I served as a flight deck fueler on an aircraft carrier during the global war on terror. After successfully surviving the hazards of the flight deck, I transitioned to the role of meteorologist where I learned about the inner workings of the earthâs climate and developed a lifelong passion for protecting the environment. (Left) A younger me in my Navy dress uniform. (Right) Me below deck in my re-fueler uniform. We wore purple uniforms to signify our role as re-fuelers. Today, I am a father, a small business owner (my brother and I run a BBQ food truck) and I also work as a software engineer.  My stint in the US Navy as a meteorologist gave me profound insight into climate and its workings, my experiences with poverty taught me the value of hard work and never taking money for granted, and my roots in rural Ohio instilled in me the belief that when good people come together, there's no challenge we can't overcome. The people who I am fighting for. A Republican for most of my life, after Trump came to power and I saw what his rhetoric of hate and division was doing to our country. I changed my voter registration and voted Democrat for the first time in my life, and I will never go back to the party that has supported him even after the violent January 6th insurrection that he encouraged and fomented with his ridiculous lies about the 2020 election.  My opponent, right-wing extremist Congressman Troy Balderson (R-OH), is among those who spread Trumpâs message of hate in the halls of Congress, and he was one of ultra MAGA Congressman Jim Jordanâs key backers during his run for House Speaker earlier this fall - he voted to elect him a whopping THREE TIMES. Hereâs a few more of his lowlights:  - Before serving in Congress, Balderson ran a used car dealership that defrauded thousands of blue collar Ohioans  - He voted against the bipartisan infrastructure bill, then touted it as a victory in his district when it passed  - Failed to hold President Trump accountable for the Jan. 6 insurrection on our Capitol building  As a father, Navy Vet, and entrepreneur, I know that Balderson is the worst kind of leader for rural Ohio and I am committed to bringing back real leadership to OH-12.  Thankfully, Balderson is more vulnerable than ever; and Tuesday's vote shows that regular Ohioans are ready to take our country back from right-wing extremism. When discussing my district, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), states âWith this ever-changing district and an out of touch incumbent, voters are ready to flip OH-12.â  [We can flip this seat and help Democrats take back the House, but only with strong support from donors across the country who are eager to help turn Ohio blue. Can you contribute $25 or more to help me and my team do the work to bring home a victory on Election Day next year?]( If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately: [Donate $5]( [Donate $10]( [Donate $25]( [Donate $50]( [Donate $100]( [Donate $250]( Donate [another amount]([Â](or [multiply your impact with a monthly contribution!]( Tuesdayâs election results are incredible, but they reflect the months and years of hard work that we have been putting in to win over swing voters. Thank you for helping us keep up this momentum and to win all across Ohio.  In Solidarity,  Jerrad Christian Democrat for Ohioâs 12th Congressional District U.S. Navy - Retired Jerrad Christian  Candidate for Congress (OH-12) [Donate]( To contribute via check, please address to: Citizens for J Christian P.O. box 315 Galena, OH 43021 Sent via [ActionNetwork.org](. To update your email address, change your name or address, or to stop receiving emails from Jerrad Christian for Congress, please [click here](.