Last night, the result didn’t go our way. We are disappointed, but not regretful. It has truly been a privilege to run in the district in which I grew up. Each of you trusted in me, and I will be forever grateful. Because you have made all the difference.

I don't have the words to express my gratitude to each of you, but let me try by sharing some thoughts...

1/7

My wonderful wife Ayesha and our three amazing kids. Our amazing campaign staff including 30+ canvassers. Our dozens of endorsers both as organizations and as elected and community leaders. Our hundreds of volunteers. Our tens of thousands of donors.

And our compassionate constituents who went to the polls and voted for economic, social, and climate justice in hopes of electing a Congressperson to represent them—and not billion dollar corporations and dark pro war PACs.

2/7

When I announced this run for Congress, I promised that we would run on principles and integrity. We would be unassailable with our arguments. We would focus on the issues that matter. We would reject all corporate money and fight for the people.

And above all else, we would demand and uphold justice in everything we do.

3/7

I am proud that we upheld our promises and can look in the mirror knowing we ran and fought for the right reasons. We face unprecedented economic inequality, horrifying global unrest and war, imminent climate catastrophe, massive attacks on our civil rights, and a failing for profit healthcare system.

The outlook seems impossible.

4/7

But we cannot lose hope.

As James Baldwin reminds us, "I know what I'm asking is impossible. But in our time, as in every time, the impossible is the least that one can demand-and one is, after all, emboldened by the spectacle of human history in general, and the American Negro history in particular, for it testifies to nothing less than the perpetual achievement of the impossible.”

5/7

So let us take our disappointment and righteous anger and channel it to achieve the impossible. Channel it into tomorrow’s battles for justice for all humanity, because the campaign for justice is ongoing, undeterred, and unrelenting. And in that campaign for justice we are destined to win—because Justice Can’t Wait.

Thank you all. My deepest love and appreciation to you.
With peace,

- Qasim Rashid

6/7

P.S. I hope each of you stay in touch with me by signing up and working together to advance our fight for justice:

https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/q9i0r8

7/7

@QasimRashid Just promise us it won't be the last time you run for office.
@QasimRashid I'll do what I can from overseas. 😎
@QasimRashid although I'm not even in your country let alone your state, I've found your posts during your campaign encouraging that there are people in the world who seek power for the right reasons and not selfish ones. I hope that you or someone like you picks up the banner for the next time around.
@QasimRashid It is my great regret that I’m not in your district and couldn’t vote for you…but I have followed your campaign and you gave me hope. You have support in Chicago and I cannot wait to see what you do next. You make America better and I hope you keep doing so.
@QasimRashid

Not my district (I live in Northern Virginia), but it still sucks. Feels like when Victoria Virasingh failed in her attempt to win my district's primary, last election.
@QasimRashid I've been following here and also wish it had gone the other way. I'm not a US citizen, but I hope you'll run for elected office in future. Regardless of what you decide, I wish you all the best in in all your endeavors. Kudos on running a clean and people-funded campaign, and I hope more people can build on your efforts and example.