Dear Kamala,

I want to thank you for the campaign you ran with fierceness, grace, and joy. I have been one of your supporters going back to the Democratic primary in 2020. I was so glad when you were nominated as the vice-presidential candidate and then ascended to that position. You can be tough when toughness is called for, as you were during the Senate hearings for Brett Cavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court, and when you debated Donald Trump in September. But you also projected genuine concern for the well-being of the people you spoke to. And your smile radiated a sense of comfort and even glee amidst the grueling election process. You looked like you were actually having fun!

Your opponent spewed lies and epithets that crossed over into slander, but you did not take the bait. You stayed on point and acted as the only true adult in the race. In your concession speech, you promised to continue to fight for the good of the country and the Constitution. What role you take waits to be seen, but I know you will be a force to be reckoned with.

I am the father of three adult daughters, all of whom admire you and voted for you. I wanted them to witness the election of the first woman and woman of color to the highest office in the land. They, along with my wife and I, were devastated by the election results. Though technically you lost, in my mind you did not lose because you won so many hearts and minds with your genuineness and personal concern. Your opponent ran a fear campaign. You ran a campaign of hope and possibility.

Pundits are, and will for some time, discussing what went “wrong” in your campaign and what could have been done differently. I did not agree with all your positions, especially on the war in Gaza and I wish you had spoken more about global warming. But in the end, I was not voting for a cause or an issue, but for you as a person of dignity, integrity, compassion, and wisdom. Thank you for demonstrating the character every political leader should have regardless of gender, position, or political party.

On election day I was a poll peacekeeper in Philadelphia. At our site, we did not encounter any harassment or conflicts. However, what I witnessed was person after person, enthusiastically rooting for you as a candidate. While you did not achieve the title of President-elect, you have demonstrated yourself to be a person of character, a symbol of goodness and justice, and a role model for women and girls, as well as men and boys, across the nation.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!