Thank you! You are not an ATM.

You’ve probably seen this before:

A campaign sends out a desperate email at 7:47 p.m. saying something like “We won’t make it without you, we only have until midnight, please chip in now!”

And then by 9 a.m. the next morning, the same campaign sends out a glossy announcement that they raised a record-breaking haul.

I’m just going to be honest: that kind of BS really drives me up a wall.

I’m not saying fundraising isn’t important. It is. Especially in a district this big, where we need to print literature, pay organizers, and travel hours between towns just to show up for people.

As a candidate, when you invest your hard-earned money in our shared vision, whether it’s $5 or $500, I am profoundly grateful.

That’s why I don’t believe in treating supporters like walking wallets. I don’t believe in fake panic or manufactured urgency just to juice a number.Especially now, in a Trump economy where prices are through the roof and everything from housing to groceries feels harder to afford, people are making real sacrifices just to stay afloat.And still, they find a way to chip in and support candidates they believe in.That kind of generosity shouldn’t be taken lightly.

When someone opens up their checkbook or bank account to support us, it’s not just a donation. It’s a sign of trust, of belief, of hope.And to misuse that trust for fake goals or disingenuous narratives isn’t just bad campaigning, it’s a moral failure and a betrayal of the very working people we say we’re fighting for.If I ever ask you for even $1, it’s because that money is going directly into the real work of this campaign.Reaching voters. Challenging our absentee congressman Jack Bergman’s grip on this seat. Building representation that doesn’t answer to Trump or billionaires.That’s what we’re doing out here. No smoke. No mirrors. Just the long, hard road to winning back trust and flipping MI‑01 blue.And hey, with this email, I’m not even going to ask you to donate.I just want to say thank you.Thank you for sticking with us, for reading, and for being part of a campaign that’s rooted in honesty, hard work, and actual service to the people of Northern Michigan.Emails like this one are one of the most important communication tools of our campaign. It’s how we break down the issues of the day and learn together. Just by opening this message and reading this far, you’re helping me reach more people.And I want you to know that whether you donated or not, your support is important to me, and I'm grateful for you.We've got a long road ahead of us and every single day the work becomes more urgent. Thank you for being a part of it.In this together,Wayne StilesDemocrat for Congress

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Wayne Stiles is a lifelong Michigander raised on blue collar Midwestern values running to flip Michigan’s 1st district. If you’re sick of political extremists trampling on our rights and dismantling our democracy, follow Wayne’s campaign and help us flip this seat.

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