09/20/2026
Today was an outstanding day on the campaign trail! Our amazing team covered three different events in three different counties, all happening at the same time.
When I made the decision to run, I pledged that no county and no community would be left behind. I also promised that our team would have a presence at every event we could possibly attend. After all, if you're not willing to show up from the beginning, why should anyone expect you to show up when it matters most?
My wife, Heather, and her dad, Daryl, loaded up early this morning and headed to the Winigan 4-H and Community Fair, where they participated in the parade. They were greeted by many wonderful constituents and had the opportunity to visit with several folks.
Cedric and Tausha Wyant traveled to Kirksville to attend the Red Barn Festival and represent our campaign. They met a lot of great people, visited with attendees, explored numerous vendor booths, and had a wonderful time.
Meanwhile, my mom, my Aunt Linda, and I traveled to Princeton for the Calamity Jane Days Festival and Parade. The parade drew an enormous crowd, and afterward we toured the vendor tents, grabbed lunch from the food trucks, and caught up with many friends, both old and new, that we've met throughout this campaign.
One of the highlights of my day was when a sweet young lady named Lucy Radewald found me after the parade. She wanted to thank me for supporting her rabbit project at the Mercer County Fair and asked to have her picture taken with me. It meant a lot to me that she and her mom, Katie, took the time to look me up after the parade. Moments like that are what make this journey so special.
Win or lose, this campaign has already been a success in many ways because of the incredible people I've met across our area and the communities I've had the privilege to learn about, visit, and be a part of.
Keep an eye out because we have a lot of events coming up over the next month and a half. We hope to see you somewhere on the campaign trail soon!