During World War II, my parents and grandparents were sent to Japanese American internment camps because of racist, fear-mongering policies.

My path to Congress was not decided in smoke-filled rooms or carefully shaped by consultants in DC. My commitment to public service was built across generations, and instilled in me by my family.

During World War II, my parents and grandparents were forced out of their homes and sent to Japanese American internment camps under Executive Order 9066. They lost everything and had no choice but to rebuild their entire lives after the war.

Despite being cast aside as second-class citizens, they instilled in me a deep sense of civic responsibility and commitment to public service. To love our country despite its flaws, and to fight for the more perfect union that our Constitution promises. Despite it all, they persevered. 

When I ran for Congress in 1994, bigotry would rear its ugly head when I was forcibly and publicly outed as gay by my Republican opponent.

Despite it all, I persevered and was a sitting member of Congress when the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage in 2015.

Today, we’re seeing some of that same racism, xenophobia, and homophobia again – especially from my MAGA counterparts in Congress. Attacks on immigrants, LGBTQ+ Americans, and women have been rising in recent years and threaten to derail decades of progress. 

But despite it all, we will prevail.  

Folks, hate is able to prevail when good people do nothing. So I’m asking for your support today – we can fight back against MAGA extremism if we band together! Will you chip in $7 today to stop MAGA’s erosion of our rights and help elect Democrats win?  >>

Sincerely,

Mark Takano