I've done a lot of tough things in my life

We need leaders who will stand up for the truth, for our democracy — and who understand the threat of MAGA firsthand.

Team, I’ll be straight with you:

I’ve done a lot of tough things in my life.

I’m the daughter of a truck driver and a Mexican immigrant. I grew up in a working-class Texas border town and learned English watching Sesame Street.

After my parents divorced, my mom and I leaned on family and made ends meet without health insurance.

When I found out my stepfather was abusing her, I helped her flee in the middle of the night.

After being moved by the devastation of 9/11, I worked my way up to be one of the only women working in counterterrorism.

During my time in government, I dealt with natural disasters, mass shootings, terrorism – which had some tough days.

But the toughest days of my life came after I did something that is far too uncommon: I told the truth.

During the first Trump administration, I saw the staggering evil of MAGA with my own eyes.

I watched Donald Trump refuse to release disaster relief for California wildfires because it was a blue state.

When a white supremacist opened fire in my hometown of El Paso, in a Walmart where my aunt was shopping, I was the one who carried the shooter’s manifesto into the West Wing.

The gunman wrote about the “Hispanic invasion of Texas.” The same language the president used.

Every day, I went to work to try to limit the damage. But it was too much for one person.

So I spoke out and blew the whistle — and resigned in order to campaign against Trump.

That was a tough day, but I wasn’t prepared for what came next.

MAGA never forgave me for humiliating Donald Trump like that. I earned the wrath of Stephen Miller and Kash Patel. Trump even pretended he’d never met me.

They came after me with lawsuits, personal attacks, and even death threats.

But as tough as that time was, I knew it helped me build the future I have today.

Because that same spirit that drove me to help my mother escape abuse, that drove me to serve the public, required me to tell the truth – no matter the consequences.

It’s also why I made another tough decision: to run for Congress.

Because we need leaders who will stand up for the truth, for our democracy — and who understand the threat of MAGA firsthand.

I’m ready to protect our democracy as a Congresswoman, and I need you to join me to make this possible. I wouldn’t ask if this fight wasn’t absolutely critical – will you rush a donation of $10 or more to my campaign and help me hit my $25,000 goal?

With your support, I can fight for Virginia’s 7th district and stand up for our country.

Olivia Troye