Jena Kingery

Tonight, I called Senator Calatayud and congratulated her on a hard-fought race. I wish her and her family well. I got into this race because of my four year old son, Leonardo, and for every family in our community struggling to make it. Families paying more every year for insurance, for rent, for groceries, for electricity, and wondering if they can afford to stay in the place they call home. So much of what is wrong with our state is self-inflicted. Insurance that costs more every year. Housing that's out of reach for the people who keep this place running. So much of it doesn't have to be this way. That was true when I started this campaign, and it's still true tonight. We came up short, but we came within the margins in a district almost no one thought we could compete in, while being outspent many times over. That happened because of the best campaign team I could have asked for. We were small but hella mighty. Thank you to every volunteer who knocked doors in the rain and stood outside polling places from seven in the morning. To the neighbors who made calls and drove each other to vote. To the supporters who gave what they could. And to the voters who took a chance on a business owner with a funny last name. To the love of my life, Martina, to Leonardo, and to my family: thank you for carrying me through this. I love you. And to everyone in this district, whether you voted for me or not: thank you. The fight for a Miami we can afford doesn't end tonight. I'm not going anywhere. As I've said all along — let's get after it.