To all the amazing people who supported my Congressional campaign,

When I first jumped in the 2022 race for the open Congressional seat left by the retirement of Jackie Speier, I had two things going for me. One was a vision of a constructive conservatism: a conservatism practical in its focus on problem solving, confident in the appeal of its values, and savvy enough not to get baited into spending its energy in the wrong places. The other was a wellspring of energy, enthusiasm, and optimism.

Out of those strengths was born a campaign that brought Republicans, Democrats, and independents together and beat four out of six candidates in the primary (and made a good run at 2nd place). More importantly, it showed that there is a conservative vision that can compete in California, that people will give you a fair hearing if you take the time to really talk with them.

I chose “Faith in people, faith in America” as my campaign slogan because I wanted to emphasize that I still had faith in people and in this country, and that I hoped to rekindle that faith in those who had lost it. But the truth is, my campaign was born out of a sense of dismay at where our national politics had gone, and I was clinging to my own faith like a drowning man clings to a piece of driftwood. It was meeting folks like you—the many, many amazing people I encountered on the campaign trail—that rejuvenated my faith far more than I ever could have imagined. I will always be grateful to you for that.

But I also saw that the majority of the issues that touch people’s day-to-day lives—housing, homelessness, public safety, education, and others—are all driven by decisions made not in Washington, DC, but in Sacramento. That’s why I’m running for the California State Assembly: I feel I can make a much bigger difference in people’s lives there.

It can be hard to feel optimistic about California when we’re losing population, the budget is broken, the schools are underperforming, and our streets don’t feel as safe as they once did. But I truly believe that our best days are still ahead of us, and we can still lead America to a brighter future. With persistence, hard work, and some California love, we will make that happen. Come find me at GusForCA.com, and join my campaign. We will make the journey together.

Much love,
Gus Mattammal