Late last night, I called Senator Puller to congratulate her on her re-election to the Virginia Senate.

As I said from the beginning of this race, it would be the toughest one I’ve ever run — for a number of reasons. It’s always difficult to defeat an incumbent, but especially one in a tailor-made district gerrymandered especially for that person. We had more than double the ground to cover than in our past campaigns, with less than half the time (notwithstanding the distraction of a primary), and we had significant catching up to overcome in both time and resources.

In order to have won this race, we would have needed everything to align correctly. Unfortunately, that just didn’t happen this time. While I am gratified that we won in Prince William and Stafford counties (mind you, in the most Democratic parts of both counties), the clock simply ran out on us being able to get the margins we needed in Prince William and to minimize our losses in Fairfax.

Notwithstanding, we did an incredible amount in 5 short months, and that would not have been possible without the generous financial support of hundreds, and more importantly, the time, dedication, and commitment from so many of you. You know who you are.

When we first discussed getting into this race, I said that we’d be leaning on volunteers and friends more than ever given the fact that Amy and I aren’t young married twenty-somethings anymore with only a dog at home. And so many of you stepped up, took ownership of this campaign, and in the end, helped us do more than we could have imagined would have been possible in such a short period of time.

To say “thank you” would be a major understatement. But, lacking more adequate words, in as most a sincere way as Amy and I can say it: thank you. Thank you!

And while we did not cross the line first in this race we just ran, Amy and I both agree that we couldn’t have asked for a better bunch of people to be running along side of us, cheering us on, lifting us up in prayer, and there at the finish line ready and willing to do it all over again. We have been so blessed by so many of you. This campaign gave us the opportunity to rekindle old friendships and establish new ones that will surely endure many years to come.

I also have been blessed by an amazing wife who has once again truly been my partner in every possible way, and three kids who understood (to varying degrees) that this campaign was about serving others and helping people. While I regret that I won’t have the opportunity to serve our community as a state senator, I am very grateful to be able to focus now on serving the 4 most important people in my life: Amy, Gracie, Isabel, and Michael.

Our extended family, too, could not have been more encouraging and supportive. You’ll be seeing a lot more of us now, and we look forward to it.

I’d be remiss to not mention how proud we are of the job our campaign team did, especially our full time staff of Mick, Willie, and Rachel, and our longtime friend and strategist Brent. And, living in Montclair now, Amy and I are heartened by the fact that our neighborhood turned out for us in large numbers and were a major force in our victory in Prince William.

Finally, I want to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is my rock. While I have no idea what He has planned for me, I trust in whatever that plan is and am excited to see it unfold in His time.

Teddy Roosevelt once said: “The credit belongs to those who are actually in the arena… who, at the worst, if they fail, fail while daring greatly, so that their place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

We’ve had a lot of victories, and now, we have our first defeat. It’s more fun to win, but I’m nevertheless glad to have had the chance to be in the arena, even if it ultimately ended up in defeat.

God bless you and again, sincerely, thank you.

-JMF.

If you haven’t heard the news already, we won today’s (well, I guess now it is technically yesterday’s) primary election.

Earlier this evening, my opponent called to graciously concede the race. I look forward to having him on our team as we aim toward the November election, and most importantly, ending politics as usual in Virginia.

At the end of the day, this primary was a good thing. Our campaign is organized, the voters are aware that there is an important election in November, and we’ve spent the last 3 months discussing the issues they care about, sharing our vision in how to address the challenges people face.

Today was important, but it is just the first step. The hard part begins tomorrow.

Thank you again for all your friendship and support. I’m grateful for it, and couldn’t ask for a better bunch of friends and supporters.

-JMF

First, a BIG thank you to everyone who generously made a financial investment in our campaign. We had a stellar month of fundraising, which would not have been possible without the help of so many of you (specifically, 216 of you). Click here for more specifics on that.

Second, absentee and in-person voting has begun. As I mentioned in my last campaign update, I have a primary election on Tuesday, August 23 (mark your calendars). Any registered voter who lives in the new 36th Senate district is eligible to vote, and if you’ll be unable to get to your local polling place on 8/23, you can vote absentee or in-person as of July 8 (a week ago). Get details here.

Third, we’re having our campaign kick off on July 30. Details here.

Now, a campaign update.

It’s been going really, really well. Every day I’m out knocking on doors and becoming better acquainted with the hard working families I hope to represent in the Virginia Senate.

And, being out (even in this heat) has its benefits. I’ve lost about 10 pounds and have a great (farmer’s) tan.

But seriously, this race is about putting people before politics, and having the opportunity to hear the challenges and triumphs of the people of the 36th district first-hand is invaluable. As I did during my time in the House of Delegates, I look forward to working day and night to improve their quality of life as it pertains to state government -– and to do my part to make Virginia a better place to live, work and raise a family.

Thanks to all who have taken the time to speak to us when we’ve come by (especially to those who have offered us a soda or bottle of water). We’ve hit a few thousand doors, and our pace continues to accelerate.

We had a fantastic time and turnout at the Dale City Independence Day Parade on the 4th of July. I really appreciate all those who took the time to march with us – it was a great way to celebrate our nation’s independence and introduce new people to our campaign (we distributed over a thousand lapel stickers to folks in the crowd who wore them around the rest of the day). We’ve posted photos on our Facebook page (please “like” us if you haven’t already).

I continue to be amazed and humbled by the incredible grassroots momentum our campaign has attracted. I’m particularly grateful for the prayers, but God-willing we win on August 23 and later on November 8, it will be a victory won by all those who have volunteered; contributed; those who have put a bumper sticker on their car or a sign in their yard; had an event for us; talked to friends and neighbors about our campaign; or done something else that gets us one step closer to ending politics as usual in Virginia.

The only endorsements that really count in this campaign are those made at the ballot box, but I’m proud to count community leaders like my new delegate, Scott Lingamfelter as among my strongest supporters – along with Mark Cole in Stafford, Corey Stewart (a resident of the 36th district) in Prince William, Tom Davis and Chris Braunlich in Fairfax, and Jamie Radtke, among thousands of others.

I’m sure some of those folks will be in attendance at our campaign kick-off on July 30. I hope you will be there too. More info on that here.

Thank you again for all you are doing, and I look forward to being in touch in the days and weeks ahead.

P.S. While we had a great month of fundraising in June, we’ve only raised about one-tenth of what we need to implement our plan between now and November 8. Will you consider making a financial contribution? It’s quick, easy, and you can do it from anywhere. Plus, Virginia law allows both personal and corporate contributions in any amount.

As I last wrote you, we’ve decided to run for the Virginia Senate, and since that decision was made – wow – it’s been a crazy last few weeks.

First: we have an important deadline coming up, and we need your help.

June 30 marks the close of our first campaign finance reporting period, and it is important that we show strong numbers on this report, so I’m really counting on you.

If you’re able, can you make a contribution? (https://senate2011.votejeff.com/contribute.php)

I’ve got about $18,000 more I need to raise to meet our current goal for this period. Whether it’s $25, $100, or $1000, we can use it.

Please consider going online to https://senate2011.votejeff.com/contribute.php, as soon as possible, and making a donation. It’s quick and easy, and you can do it from anywhere. I’d be grateful for the help.

If it helps, Virginia law allows both personal and corporate contributions in any amount.

Now, a quick campaign update:

In a matter of 9 days, with the help of many, we accumulated over 550 petition signatures to get my name on the ballot. We turned in those signatures with the rest of my candidacy documents and because I filed them before anyone else, my name will be first on the ballot.

Which ballot? Well, I do have competition for the Republican nomination, so please be sure to mark your calendars for primary day on Tuesday, August 23. If you live in the new 36th Senate district (find your home on the map at https://senate2011.votejeff.com/district/ to see if you’re in or out of the district), I’m really counting on you showing up and voting for me in this primary.

And, because Virginia is an open primary state, it does not require party registration, so any registered voter who lives in our district can vote in this primary election.

In the time since we turned in our filing documents and petitions, we’ve literally hit the ground running. Well, more accurately, walking — door-to-door that is. In the just the last several days, we’ve knocked on over 1000 doors, and with 44 precincts to hit before election day (hopefully more than once), we expect to keep — or even pick up — our current pace.

Thousands of citizens of every political stripe are signing on to our campaign by offering their support, volunteering, asking for yard signs and bumper stickers, making financial contributions, and importantly, praying for (and with) us. Thank you!

I also want to thank our steering committee who have been a huge asset, and our finance committee is doing an awesome job helping us raise the resources we need to implement an fund our campaign plan.

We’re building a strong grassroots movement focused on people, not politics. And, given that this is a 63% Obama district, we’re going to need to win the trust and support of not just Republicans, but Democrats and Independents too. Fortunately, I’ve got a track record of doing just that.

God willing we win our primary (which we have every expectation that will be the case), and then move on to the general election on November 8th.

Thanks again for all you are doing. We’ll keep you posted in the days and weeks ahead.

-JMF.

P.S. Please consider making a donation to our campaign — it’d be a big help. Visit https://senate2011.votejeff.com/contribute.php. Also, our headquarters is now in operation in the Town of Dumfries. If you’ve got some time to volunteer, we could use it. Visit https://senate2011.votejeff.com/volunteer.php to sign up.

I’m happy to report to you, after a lot of thought, discussion, and prayer, we’ve decided to run for the Senate of Virginia.

But, I’m not in it for the money ($18k a year), the title, the digs, some degree of perceived power, or people making me feel important. I am running to serve the people of eastern Prince William, Fairfax, and Stafford and to change politics as usual in Richmond. There’s too much polarization; too much partisanship; and not enough principled people going down there who are focused on the people that they represent — working hard day in and day out to make our communities, commonwealth and country a better place to live, work, and raise a family. We need leaders in Richmond who aren’t afraid to shake up and stand up to the status quo and keep people of any political party accountable.

Citizens of the 36th Senate District aren’t unlike most folks. They work hard. They pay their taxes. They strive to build a better future for themselves and their families. Whether it is someone who was born and raised in Virginia like me or someone who came from a foreign land to seek the American dream and integrate as a naturalized citizen, like my Colombian mother — and everyone in between — our best days are still ahead.

Yet, the career politicians in Richmond have made a mess of our economy and have put future generations at risk. Sure, they talk about creating jobs, but in reality they vote time and time again for job-killing tax hikes, new regulations, and more wasteful government programs.

I’ve opposed all attempts to grow government and tax you more, and I will continue to do so. You know better how to spend your money than government does. My record is clear and needs no election-year makeover. I never forget who I work for and always keep my promises. You might not always agree with me 100% of the time, but you’ll always know where I stand and I’ll always welcome your thoughts and ideas.

I hope you’ll join our commonsense, pro-people — not politics — campaign to create jobs, grow our economy, improve transportation and infrastructure, and protect our special quality of life.

And, we need your help. Click here to donate to our campaign or get involved.volunteering, contributing, and praying for us.making a financial contribution now, and signing up to volunteer with our campaign. With your help, I know we’ll have a big victory this November. God willing, we’ll win this election and change politics as usual in Virginia.

This is going to be a tough race in a district that was clearly gerrymandered for someone of the opposite political party. I’ve got a track record of winning in these tough districts and appealing to people of all political stripes, but this one could be the most difficult one yet. Notwithstanding, the numbers tell us it is winnable, especially given that 37% of the district is my old House district. Some of the toughest precincts in this new Senate district are precincts I consistently won in my prior House races against difficult opposition.

However, our past success could not have been possible without the efforts of so many — volunteering, contributing, and praying for us.

Please consider making a financial contribution now, and signing up to volunteer with our campaign. With your help, I know we’ll have a big victory this November. God willing, we’ll win this election and change politics as usual in Virginia.

Amy and I are incredibly grateful for all you’ve done in the past, and we’re counting on you now more than ever.

Thanks again. More updates to come soon.

-JMF.