In January of 2020, I was urged to run for South Dakota State House of Representatives by members of my community. Initial campaign forecasts reflected I had a 30% chance of winning the election against two well-funded, established incumbents. Early predictions assumed I would secure less than 2,000 votes. I immediately got to work building a talented team and creating a campaign strategy to see us through Election Day. 

Campaigning for public office amidst a global pandemic required adaptability and creative solutions. I looked to digital outreach and mobilization to create an audience and reach the voters in my district. Using primarily Facebook and Twitter, I was able to fundraise over $12,000 from individual contributions. Through the use of platforms such as TikTok and Twitch.tv, I was able to organize volunteers for various texting campaigns and host bi-weekly virtual townhalls centered around key issues. My strategy reached beyond the voters in my district, drawing attention from national organizations and public figures such as Run For Something, The LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, and Former Presidential Candidate Pete Buttigieg. 

As South Dakota's first openly nonbinary candidate, I made history. In the final days of the campaign trail, The Library of Congress archived my website and affiliated links as "an important part of the historical record."

I am incredibly proud of the campaign I built in collaboration with my team. On November 3rd, 3,635 people cast their vote for me- almost double what was initially predicted. I remain dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for South Dakotans through social and political action.