08/08/2026
If you disagree with me, that's fine. Disagree with my votes. Disagree with my policies. Disagree with my opinions. That is part of a representative republic, and I signed up for that.
What I did not sign up for was having my character assassinated every time someone doesn't like a decision I make.
Somewhere along the way, we decided that disagreeing with someone meant we had the right to invent motives, spread lies, question integrity, and destroy reputations. It doesn't.
You don't know my heart. You don't know my intentions. You don't know the conversations I have behind the scenes or the work that goes into every decision I make. Yet some people have no problem accusing me of corruption, dishonesty, or worse, without one shred of evidence.
Those words don't just affect me.
My husband reads them.
My children read them.
My parents read them.
My family has to watch complete strangers make up stories about someone they love, simply because they don't agree with one vote or one issue.
I don't do that to you.
I don't publicly attack your character because we disagree. I don't write hateful posts about you for your spouse, your children, your parents, or your pastor to read. I don't try to destroy your reputation because I think you're wrong.
Why has that become acceptable when it's directed at public servants?
The truth is, every single one of us has people who disagree with us. Every one of us has made decisions others didn't like. None of us is perfect.
But somewhere we've lost basic human decency.
People have become comfortable being cruel. Comfortable lying. Comfortable making up stories that fit the narrative they want to believe. Comfortable saying things online that they would never have the courage to say sitting across a table from someone.
And then they act shocked when that person defends themselves.
People often ask why good people don't run for office anymore.
Look around.
The answer is right in front of you.
Who wants to volunteer themselves and their family to be called every name imaginable? Who wants their children to read lies about their parent? Who wants complete strangers criticizing their appearance, their weight, their hair, their family, and their character because they cast a vote someone didn't like?
If you think it wouldn't happen to you, you're fooling yourself.
It would.
People would hate you without knowing you.
People would assign motives you've never had.
People would spread lies as though they were facts.
People would try to convince others that you're a terrible human being.
And many of the loudest voices online would never have the courage to walk into your office, look you in the eye, and repeat the very same things they type from behind a keyboard.
Am I angry?
Yes.
Am I hurt?
Absolutely.
I'm fortunate that life has given me a thick skin and enough confidence not to let anonymous opinions define who I am. But I also know there are people who would not survive this kind of constant abuse. There are people who would believe what is said about them. There are people who would curl up in a fetal position wondering if maybe they really are as awful as strangers say they are.
Words matter.
They always have.
And before someone rushes to prove my point by commenting that I'm a terrible person, corrupt, bought and paid for, or deserving of whatever abuse comes my way, ask yourself one question:
Would you walk into my office, sit across from me, look me in the eyes, and say those exact same words?
If the answer is no, maybe they shouldn't be said at all.
I will continue serving. I will continue standing for what I believe is right. I will continue listening to people who disagree with me respectfully.
But I refuse to accept the idea that character assassination is just "part of politics."
It shouldn't be.
We can disagree without destroying each other.
We owe each other at least that much.
